subregional inflation is expected to edge up to 3.3%, slightly above the
earlier forecast. The depreciation of Southeast Asian currencies against
the US dollar this year will put some upward pressure on prices of
imports. Inflation could be higher than anticipated if current El Niño
effects become severe.
Currency depreciation against the strengthening US dollar
accelerated in August when the PRC devalued the renminbi. Sharp
depreciation was recorded for the Indonesian rupiah, by 13.7%
against the US dollar from the start of this year to early September,
and for the Malaysian ringgit, which depreciated by 16.5% in that
period. The State Bank of Viet Nam, aiming to support the country’s
international competitiveness, devalued the dong against the US dollar
three times in the first 8 months of 2015.
This Update trims the projection for Southeast Asia’s current account
surplus this year to 3.0% of subregional GDP (Figure 3.1.12). Merchandise
export receipts declined for much of the subregion in the first half owing
to soft external demand and, for commodity and hydrocarbon producers,
plunging global prices. But imports also dropped, in some cases more
sharply than exports, due to lower prices for imported oil, currency
depreciation, subdued investment, and reduced demand from export
industries for imported inputs.
Forecasts of current account surpluses in 2015 are revised up for
Singapore and Thailand while current account deficits are now seen to
narrow more than previously anticipated in Cambodia, Indonesia, and
the Lao PDR. In Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and
Viet Nam, however, current account surpluses will likely be smaller than
expected in March. For 2016, the aggregate current account surplus
is seen narrowing to 2.7% of GDP, largely because expected stronger
investment in Thailand will push up imports of capital equipment and
shrink its current account surplus.
infrastructure investment