CLMV economic growth to accelerate in 2024.
SCB EIC expects CLMV economic growth to accelerate in 2024, backed by a recovery in exports and tourism, which will bolster domestic demand through labor market recovery. Looking ahead, CLMV economies are poised to benefit from the “China +1” strategy, with multinational enterprises seeking to diversify their manufacturing bases to mitigate rising geopolitical risks. This relocation trend will help buttress foreign direct investment (FDI) in CLMV countries in the medium term. In 2024, SCB EIC anticipates GDP growth of 6.0% in Cambodia (up from 5.6% in 2023), 4.7% in Lao PDR (from 4.5%), 3.0% in Myanmar (from 2.5%), and 6.3% in Vietnam (from 5.1%).
The growth rate of each CLMV economy still lagged behind the pre-COVID-19 average. Slower growth is primarily attributed to pressures from China’s economic deceleration, given CLMV’s heavy reliance on China—especially in trade, investment, tourism, and the real estate sector. Meanwhile, Cambodia and Vietnam witnessed an uptick in non-performing loan ratios following the withdrawal of COVID-19 relief measures. Furthermore, tighter domestic financial conditions may hinder credit from financial institutions and access to liquidity for businesses. Geopolitical conflicts also pose significant risks that warrant monitoring. In the short term, disruptions in the Red Sea and a drought in the Panama Canal could hamper global trade and heighten costs in export logistics for CLMV countries. In the long term, the CLMV region must prepare for the rising tides of protectionism worldwide, notably trade barriers and tariffs.
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SCB EIC revised down the Thai economic growth outlook in 2023 to 3.1% (from 3.9%) due mainly to much lower-than-expected outturn in Q2 and continued export contraction. Still, there remains impetus from private consumption and tourism sector. Foreign tourist arrivals experience a buoyant recovery and will approach 30 million people as projected this year, particularly the Middle East visitors that could be Thailand’s new potential target. As a result, the service sector recorded a steady rebound and helped reduce fragility in the labor market. In 2024, we expect that Thailand’s economy will accelerate to 3.5% with an upbeat recovery in foreign tourists around 37.7 million. Also, private investment is expected to grow in line with the better trend of investment greenlights from Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI). Also, Thai exports will regain momentum and provide thrust to overall growth in 2024.
Headline inflation is expected to escalate since Q4, but should remain anchored within the target range at 1.7% in 2023 and 2% in 2024—driven by higher energy and food prices. Meanwhile, the core inflation will likely stay elevated at 1.4% in 2023 and 1.5% in 2024. SCB EIC anticipates another policy rate hike in the September meeting to the terminal point of 2.5% since the Thai economy will continue to regain its potential. Inflation will encounter upside risks from higher energy and food prices. The real interest rate should therefore return to a positive trajectory, that will support Thailand’s economic and financial stability in the long term by preempting the buildup of financial imbalances during a prolonged period of low interest rates.
The global economic rebound will be increasingly unsynchronized. Based on our forecast, the global economic growth should ascend to 2.4% in 2023 and stand steady throughout 2024. The global economy has been outperforming the consensus. Yet, we observed a persistent fragility that could continue into 2024—as a result of rampant inflation, policy rate hikes among major economies, and depleting excess savings. Furthermore, China’s economy will face a slowdown over the short and long term as structural challenges could hamper the growth outlook.
Advanced economies' rate hike cycle will come to an end within this year. Rising commodity prices could drive global headline inflation around the year-end. Likewise, core inflation in major economies should stay elevated as tight labor markets continue to support labor income. Against such backdrops, the US Federal Reserve tended to keep its current policy rate at 5.25-5.5% until Q2/2024. The European Central Bank and the Bank of England will slightly raise policy rates in the rest of 2023 and maintain their restrictive rates for the time being. Monetary easing is expected in 2H/2024 after core inflation subsides. In Asia, the People’s Bank of China has stayed the course on monetary easing to bolster a flagging economy. In contrast, the Bank of Japan will likely scale