Huge bounce in Philippine imports masks a broad-based Q1 improvement
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- GDP growth in the Philippines inched up in Q1, to 5.4%, but a big import bounce is to blame…
- …Activity broadly improved, especially government spending, though the Q1 bump should be a one-off.
- Consumption should improve this year due to low inflation, while capex still faces many headwinds.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
An overdue—and big—m/m correction in Philippine sales to close Q1
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- ASEAN’s manufacturing PMI plunged to a new post-Covid low in the wake of “Liberation Day”…
- …But it looks like China’s struggles are more pressing, for now, and it’s best to wait for hard IP data.
- We’ve slashed our 2025 average inflation forecast for the Philippines to just 1.8%, from 2.5%.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
Front-loading of Vietnamese exports to the US looks to have hit a ceiling
A quiet start to Q2 for retail sales in Vietnam, following a robust Q1
Lots of moving parts, but April saw no change to Vietnamese inflation
Below-target-range inflation in the Philippines looks set to persist until year-end
This bout of Thai deflation should be short and shallow
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Indonesian growth fell to 4.9% in Q1, as base effects hit public spending and construction flat-lined…
- …Machinery capex should come under more pressure soon, with Chinese import demand cratering.
- We have cut our 2025 GDP growth forecast slightly, to 4.9% from 5.0%, and still see 100bp in BI cuts.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Indonesian CPI came in above expectations in April, mainly reflecting the end of power discounts.
- The consensus for the Philippines’ Q1 GDP is well-positioned; we expect a similar-ish 5.8% print.
- The MAS is likely to ease policy further in July, but October could be more 50-50.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
Indonesia’s electricity discounts are now well and truly a thing of the past
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- In one line: Ignore the inflated headline, but households had a decent Q1.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- In one line: Compelled by the US’ tariff war, and allowed for by a resumption of sub-1% inflation.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
Underneath the surface; a weak close to a robust Q1 for Philippine trade
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
FACTORY ASIA—EX-CHINA—IS DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
- …MORE CUTS TO COME FROM THE RBI AND THE BSP
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- The BoT enacted a second straight 25bp rate cut, to 1.75%, in the wake of the US’s tariff aggression…
- …We think it has left the door open to, but also set the bar high for, extra cuts; for now, we see no more.
- Our final GDP forecast for Q1 sees only a minor slip in headline growth to 2.9%, from 3.2% in Q4.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Thai exports continued to soar in Q1, on the back of US tariff front-loading, which leapt in March…
- …But their boost to GDP growth should be counter-balanced markedly by much more destocking…
- …While service exports likely will impose their first big drag post-Covid, given falling Chinese tourists.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
Bigger US front-loading drives Thai export growth to a 3-year high
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- India’s flash PMIs for April were solid, albeit backed seemingly by unsustainable export front-running.
- The year-over-year change in the PMIs still points to sub-6% GDP growth; a warning to rosy consensus…
- …The RBI’s consumer survey shows that the recovery in planned spending is starting to top out.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Bank Indonesia stayed on hold this month, but—rightly—downgraded its 2025 growth forecasts…
- …Consumption is still struggling to increase more meaningfully, and confidence is starting to wobble.
- India’s trade deficit ballooned unexpectedly in March, but underlying import demand is flailing.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Ignore Indonesia’s larger-than-expected surplus in March; export growth will be weaker from Q2.
- Expect more downside this month after Indian inflation fell to a five-year-plus low in March…
- …Our food-price tracker indicates downside risks are still intensifying; our 2025 CPI call is now 3.0%.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
- Doomsday takes on the future of EM Asia ex-China are overblown, even if the “reciprocal” tariffs return…
- …They’d still give the China+1 wave an inadvertent boost; cheap labour won’t disappear overnight.
- Taiwan’s exports softened in March but remain in double digits, as apparent front-loading continues.
Miguel Chanco (Chief EM Asia Economist)Emerging Asia
