The forecast through May indicates that exceptional deficits will shrink in Cambodia and Thailand, but deficits will remain widespread and severe deficits will emerge in northern Thailand. Intense deficits will emerge in southern Myanmar, the Malay Peninsula, northern Sumatra, central Laos, southern Vietnam, Philippines, and northeastern Borneo. Deficits will persist in Papua New Guinea. Areas of surplus include western Myanmar, Indonesian Borneo and Java.
Southeast Asia & the Pacific: Intense deficits to persist in W Cambodia
The forecast indicates a gradual transition from predominantly surplus conditions to deficit. Western Cambodia and eastern Papua New Guinea, however, show deficit conditions throughout the 12-month forecast. Surpluses will begin to downgrade in the near-term but exceptional surpluses remain in the forecast through December for western Myanmar, northern and southern Laos, and along the west side of the Mekong River in Cambodia down to Phnom Penh. After December severe deficits will begin to emerge in Malaysia and Indonesia.