Three quarters in, domestic disquiet could prove costly for S-E Asia’s growth drivers

[SINGAPORE] While a front-loading rush in the first half of the year saw South-east Asia’s growth rates hold steady in the face of US tariffs, the region’s mixed third quarter has offered hints at what could come in 2026.

Analysts noted that the region’s resilience has been noteworthy, with a number of South-east Asian countries beating market consensus estimates for gross domestic product growth in the third quarter of the year – Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Strong front-loading shipment activity had taken place ahead of US tariffs coming into effect in August, driving growth within the region in the first half of the year.