El Nino threat will cloud ASEAN economic outlook
Subject Outlook for the impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon on South-east Asia. Significance The El Nino Southern Oscillation climatic pattern spreading across South-east Asia is expected to be the most severe to affect the region since 1997-98. Building since the middle of this year, the 2015-16 El Nino will bring flooding and drought that will disrupt agricultural production, exports and water-dependent industries, and trigger labour migrations to cities. Impacts Smaller harvests will constrain potential export earnings from agricultural shipments. Economic growth will suffer into 2016, with Indonesia and the Philippines probably affected the most. Flooding will probably increase the incidence of water-borne and crop diseases.