Original Source

Asia-Pacific economies face a growth slowdown this year due to rising costs from the US-Israel war on Iran and persistent trade uncertainty, according to international forecasts.

Asia Economic Growth Forecasts Cut

Leading international organizations have lowered their growth forecasts for Asia-Pacific economies this year. The slowdown is attributed to rising costs associated with the US-Israel war on Iran, combined with ongoing trade uncertainty that threatens global trade flows. These factors are expected to put a strain on supply chains, leading to an overall economic deceleration in the region.

China's Relative Economic Resilience

Despite the dim outlook, China's economy demonstrated resilience in the first quarter, posting better-than-expected growth of 5%. Finance Minister Lan Foan emphasized last week that the world's second-largest economy would continue to serve as an engine for global growth. This suggests that China is maintaining relatively robust growth even amid a broader slowdown across the Asian region.

*Source: SCMP (2026-04-20)*

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