The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) has released its annual “ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook 2026,” projecting economic growth of 4.0% for the region — which includes the 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, and South Korea — in both 2026 and 2027.
The report warns that escalating conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions to global energy supplies pose significant downside risks to the regional outlook. In 2025, the region’s economy grew 4.3%, exceeding previous forecasts, with AI-driven semiconductor demand serving as a key driver of export growth.
AMRO also highlights profound structural shifts within the ASEAN+3 economy. The region has become one of the world’s largest markets, accounting for 28% of global final demand. At the same time, its reliance on the U.S. market has declined, as the economy transitions from a “production base for external markets” to a “domestic demand-driven regional market.”
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