Despite a global downturn in business optimism, confidence is buoyant in ASEAN, reaching the highest level ever recorded by the IBR in Q2 2018. However, growing concerns over exchange rate fluctuations among South East Asian (ASEAN) businesses threaten to reverse their positive outlook, according to new research from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR).
The IBR reveals that business optimism among ASEAN businesses sits at net 64% in Q2 2018. This is up three percentage points from Q1 and compares with net 46% a year ago. In Malaysia, business optimism has leapt 24pp to net 52% in Q2, while in the Philippines it has increased 8pp to net 82%. Indonesian businesses remain overwhelmingly optimistic at net 98% – the highest among the countries surveyed.
This is the highest level of business optimism ever recorded by the IBR in the region. The new high is the culmination of four quarters of consecutive growth in optimism and reflects greater regional economic cooperation in recent years following the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Furthermore, the IMF is forecasting over 5% growth in ASEAN GDP from 2018 through to 2023, increasing slightly from 5.3% in 2018 to 5.5% in 20231. Optimism rates are undoubtedly pushed upwards by the continued growth of China, a close trading partner for many of the region’s economies.
The IBR also finds that behind this business confidence lies a threat. There are growing concerns among ASEAN businesses about exchange rate fluctuations, driven by the prospect of further US Federal Reserve rate rises this year and beyond into 2019.
Indeed, the proportion of ASEAN business leaders citing exchange rate fluctuations as a constraint on their ability to grow sits at 36%. This is a sharp increase from 29% in Q1 and 26% in Q4 2017. In the Philippines, concerns have increased by 8pp this quarter, in Singapore by 14pp and in Malaysia by 18pp.
The IBR data shows that despite the overall increase in ASEAN business optimism, in Singapore it decreased slightly from net 34% to net 32% and in Thailand from net 16% to net 2%. Furthermore, exchange rates are not the only potential drag on confidence. Expectations for increased employment across the region have fallen from net 37% to net 31% – the lowest since the end of 2016. This reveals a more complex picture in the region despite its record optimism score.
While the situation for businesses is complex, action can certainly be taken to reduce the risks associated with a reliance on US dollars. One option is to hedge and lock in a more predictable exchange rate for a period of time.
Alternatively, firms are faced with the decision to pass increased costs on to customers through higher prices, or absorb the costs themselves, impacting their profits.
The message to businesses is to safeguard against the threats of rising exchange rates while business optimism remains buoyant.
Look out for Grant Thornton’s Future of APAC report, published later this year, for further insights the economic outlook within the broader region.
For further information please contact: Andrew Brosnan, insight and thought leadership manager, Grant Thornton.
Find out more about the International Business Report (IBR).