Trade in the Asia-Pacific region will remain positive in the early part of 2026, according to ANZ’s Simon Ireland, despite ongoing uncertainty in the global environment.
Speaking to ANZ Institutional Insights on video, Ireland — ANZ’s Managing Director, International — said regional trade had been resilient through the tariff-related uncertainty that dominated 2025, but had “come out of it pretty well”.
“Some of the countries that have come out the other side are looking to have exceptionally strong years in terms of trade and export this year,” he said. “Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Philippines.
“It's looking reasonably strong going into 2026.”
You can hear the comments on video below.
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Ireland said growth across key Asian economies was likely to impress in 2026.
“I think trade will remain positive,” he said. “And the countries I spoke about, they'll be particularly strong.”
ANZ Research expects Vietnam’s gross domestic product to rise 7.2 per cent in 2026. India is forecast to grow at a rate of 6.5 per cent, Malaysia at 4.5 per cent, and the Philippines at 5.0 per cent.
Much has been made of China’s growth profile, but according to Ireland, its demand for resources will continue.
That will “help the Australian growth story, as well as the New Zealand growth story,” he said.
