On October 6, the World Bank released a report indicating that the economic growth of the East Asia and Pacific region is anticipated to reach 4.5% this year. This marks an upward adjustment of 0.3 percentage points compared to the forecast made in April. The growth rate is expected to decelerate to 4.4% in 2027 and further decline to 4.3% in 2028. Among the major economies in the region, Vietnam's growth forecast has witnessed the most significant upward revision, climbing by 1.1 percentage points to 7.4%.
Nevertheless, the World Bank has sounded a note of caution, stating that the economic resilience of the region heavily hinges on manufacturing and exports related to AI, which renders it susceptible to a downturn in global tech expenditures. When excluding these AI-related products, the trade growth in the region appears sluggish or even negative. These products constitute over half of the export growth in most economies within the region, with the proportion exceeding 70% in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.