Developing Asia’s 2017 growth seen as weakest in 16 years: ADB

Friday, 7 April 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Developing Asia is on track to post its slowest annual growth in 16 years this year as it adjusts to China’s rebalancing and possible spillovers from global policy uncertainty, the Asian Development Bank said.

The Manila-based lender kept at 5.7% this year’s growth forecast for developing Asia, which groups 45 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. That would be the region’s weakest expansion since it grew 5.0% in 2001.

Next year, developing Asia should again grow by 5.7%, the ADB said in its 2017 Asia Development Outlook report.

“Developing Asia continues to drive the global economy even as the region adjusts to a more consumption-driven economy in China and looming global risks,” said Yasuyuki Sawada, the ADB’s Chief Economist.

Sawada said the region faces “risks from uncertain policy direction in the advanced economies, including the pace of interest rate normalisation in the United States”.

“While short-term risks seem manageable, regional policymakers should remain vigilant to respond to possible spillover through capital outflows and exchange rate movements,” Sawada said.

The Federal Reserve hiked US rates a notch in mid-March, its second tightening in three months. Forecasts from Fed officials suggest a median of two more increases before year-end.

China, which is rebalancing its economy to growth led by consumption rather than exports, is expected to grow 6.5% this year, the ADB said. That is better than its December forecast of 6.4%, but weaker than the 6.7% expansion in 2016.

Growth in China is seen slowing further to 6.2% in 2018.

The ADB reduced its 2017 growth forecast for India to 7.4% from 7.8% and it expects growth there to pick up to 7.6% in 2018.

With nearly all economies in Southeast Asia showing an upward trend, the region should expand by a faster 4.8% this year and pick up to 5.0% next year, the ADB said.

Economies in South Asia are projected to expand by 7.0% in 2017 and 7.2% in 2018.

Strong consumer demand and rising global commodity prices could cause the inflation pace in developing Asia to quicken to 3.0% this year and to 3.2% in 2018, the ADB said.

The report is available on ADB’s website: www.adb.org.