Southeast and South Asian nations report record export growth

Several Asian economies reported significant export milestones in September 2026. The Philippines reached a record monthly export value of USD 9.87 billion, a 35.6% increase from the previous year. This marks the highest monthly value since the country began tracking trade in 1991, driven largely by electronic products which accounted for 70.1% of total merchandise exports.

Sri Lanka also achieved a record monthly export peak of USD 1.377 billion, representing a 21% year-on-year increase. This growth was led by industrial products, specifically petroleum and machinery. However, the country faces ongoing challenges, including high energy costs and regulatory hurdles such as the delayed implementation of the Madrid Protocol for international trademark protection.

In Vietnam, total trade turnover for the first ten months of 2026 surpassed USD 1 trillion, a 32.3% increase year-on-year. While the electronics sector remains a primary driver, particularly due to global demand for artificial intelligence equipment, officials have called for deeper analysis of the industry's trade deficit structure.