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Tracking Asian Integration
Economic growth remained strong in the first half of 2017 at 6.8%, driven mainly by strong electricity exports, the construction of large infrastructure projects, and a surge in cash crop production and exports. In the first half, electricity generation rose by an impressive 34.8% year on year, and cement production by a sturdy 14.6%.
Given strong growth in the first half of 2017, the economy’s expansion is expected to be sustained at 6.9% in 2017 and 7.0% in 2018. Downside risks to the outlook are a sustained worsening of the international market for mining products, an unexpected slowdown in Thailand, its vital electricity market, and, as always, bad weather affecting agriculture.
Source: Asian Development Outlook 2017 Update, ADB.
| Latest | Month-Ago | Year-Ago | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite Stock Price Index 1 | 947.1 (Apr18) | 912.8 | 1.0 |
| Broad Money Growth 2 | 12.2 (Dec17) | 12.2 | 10.9 |
| Headline Inflation Rate 3 | 1.9 (Mar18) | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Merchandise Export Growth 3 | 71.5 (Jan18) | 71.5 | 37.0 |
| 1 Monthly average, local index. 2 %. 3 y-o-y, %. | |||
| Source: Bloomberg LP; CEIC database. | |||
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