ASEAN Express News June 30, 2026

ASEAN Economic Special Report (300 articles total)

Embrace the New Southbound Policy and look towards ASEAN economic trends. CNA's "Southeast Asia Economic Information Network" selects multiple financial headlines from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other countries daily. Whether it's new government policies, industry trends, or investment opportunities, we provide you with timely key information to understand the market and seize business opportunities.

Vietnam: Beverage Market Attracts Investment, AP Company Enters and Plans Expansion

(CNA Taipei, June 30) After three years of preparation, Vietnamese domestic enterprise AP Beverage Trading Production announced its entry into the beverage market in early June and commenced operations through its manufacturing plant in Dong Nai Province.

The project has a total investment of approximately $80 million, focusing on the production of bottled non-alcoholic beverages. The goal is to establish 500,000 sales points nationwide by 2030 and expand its product reach to five international markets within the next few years.

Laos: Expanding Exports to Strengthen Food Security, Laos Targets 4.1% Agricultural Growth in 2026

(CNA Taipei, June 30) The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has set a growth target of 4.1% for the agricultural sector in 2026. The ministry expects agriculture to contribute 20.7% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year and assist in promoting a more self-reliant economic development to ensure sustainable growth.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Linkham Douangsavanh stated to the media on the 25th at the first expanded cabinet meeting of 2026 that the relevant growth targets will be driven by multiple measures, including strengthening food security, expanding agricultural exports, improving land and natural resource management, and enhancing agriculture's contribution to overall economic growth.

Singapore: May Manufacturing Output Up 13% Year-on-Year, AI Drives Upward Revision of Economic Growth

(CNA Taipei, June 30) Latest data released by the Singapore Economic Development Board shows that due to contractions in both the biomedical and chemical manufacturing sectors, May manufacturing output increased by 13% year-on-year, lower than April's 16.5%. Among various industries, the electronics sector saw a surge in output by 35.8% driven by strong AI demand, with information and communications technology and consumer electronics increasing by 59.2%, and semiconductors by 37%.

Analysts point out that the expansion of global AI infrastructure spending and demand for memory and semiconductor equipment are expected to continue into Q3. Furthermore, with the easing of the Middle East situation and the resumption of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, chemical raw material supply is expected to improve. Driven by AI and the construction industry, the economic growth forecast for 2026 will be revised upward from 4.2% to 4.6%.

Philippines: Peso Among Weakest Asian Currencies, Strong Dollar and Fed's Hawkish Policy Suppress Emerging Markets

(CNA Taipei, June 30) The Philippine peso has recently become one of the weakest currencies in Asia, along with the Thai baht and the South Korean won. The main reason is the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) hawkish stance, which has driven the dollar higher and caused emerging market currencies to generally depreciate.

MUFG Bank points out that since the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on June 18, the widening interest rate differential and the expectation of "higher for longer" interest rates continue to support the dollar's trend. Even with a slight pullback in US Treasury yields, dollar demand remains strong.

Myanmar: Cultivating Seed Potatoes, Shan State Establishes Cold Storage Facilities to Reduce Imports

(CNA Taipei, June 30) Myanmar authorities have stated that cold storage facilities have been established in Shan State for the systematic storage of seed potatoes. Seed potatoes are produced through tissue culture, which is expected to further reduce import volumes.

The "Myanma Alinn" newspaper reported that the Naungtayar Potato Growers Association in Shan State stated that the country lacks high-quality, disease-free seed potatoes and needs to import approximately 200 metric tons of quality seed potatoes annually. If the success rate of cultivating seed potatoes increases significantly in the future, import volumes from countries like the Netherlands, India, and China can be reduced.

Malaysia: Strong El Niño Impacts Malaysian Palm Oil Production, Prices May Rise

(CNA Taipei, June 30) Affected by the drought caused by the strong El Niño climate pattern, Malaysia is expected to experience significant supply disruptions, leading to a substantial decline in fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.

Research firm MBSB points out that palm oil is a crop highly dependent on rainfall. Prolonged abnormal rainfall will affect crop growth and pollination efficiency, thereby suppressing yields. However, supply contraction will support an increase in Crude Palm Oil (CPO) prices, creating a favorable investment environment for the plantation industry. The research also indicates that during past strong El Niño events, CPO prices showed a clear upward trend, demonstrating the profound impact of climate factors on the market.

Thailand: Ranks 7th in Asia for Business Potential, Authorities Strive to Join OECD by 2028

(CNA Taipei, June 30) "U.S. News & World Report" released its "Best Countries 2026" rankings, indicating that Thailand ranks 27th globally and 7th in Asia among the best countries for doing business and entrepreneurship. Thai Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek stated that this aligns with the government's continuous efforts to promote economic structural reforms and enhance global competitiveness.

Thanadirek said that this ranking also reflects the international community's recognition of Thailand's investment potential. The authorities will strive to officially join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) by 2028 to comprehensively improve regulatory and governance standards, attract foreign investment for future industries, and ensure sustainable economic growth.

Cambodia: Cabinet Approves Major Reforms to Combat Tourism Decline and Strengthen Economic Resilience

(CNA Taipei, June 30) The Cambodian cabinet has approved a series of major reform bills aimed at enhancing market competitiveness and deepening ASEAN economic integration. However, official data shows that affected by the tense situation at the Thai-Cambodian border, regional crackdowns on online scams, and geopolitical instability in the Middle East, international tourist arrivals in the first five months of this year were only 1.54 million, a year-on-year decrease of 47.8%.

To cope with the impact of the halving of foreign tourists, the authorities are vigorously promoting domestic tourism, hoping to mitigate the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises. Data shows that domestic tourism in Cambodia exceeded 20.3 million person-times in the first five months, a significant increase of 54.2% against the trend, becoming an important economic pillar for hotels and restaurants during the green season (rainy season). In addition, the cabinet has also approved a plan to guarantee women's labor productivity to stabilize the female workforce, which constitutes the majority in the garment and footwear industries.

Indonesia: Rice Stockpiles Reach Record High, Plans to Export 10,000 Tons of Rice to Singapore

(CNA Taipei, June 30) The Indonesian government has proposed exporting at least 10,000 tons of rice to Singapore and is seeking to expand shipments of eggs and poultry. With domestic food stockpiles reaching a historic high, Southeast Asia's largest economy is actively strengthening its role as a regional food supplier.

The Indonesian Minister of Agriculture stated that current domestic rice production is sufficient to meet internal demand, and government stockpiles have reached 5.1 million tons, far exceeding the National Logistics Agency's (Bulog) storage capacity of 3 million tons. Authorities have additionally leased storage space for approximately 2 million tons to manage these surplus goods.

*For more information, please contact Section Chief Chang Li-chuan at (02) 2505-1180 ext. 792 or EMAIL: mia@mail.cna.com.tw

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