Malaysia’s trade position improved, but it was outdone by a net outflow in gross transfers. In the Philippines, payments for capital and intermediate goods imports continued to drive the widening of trade and current account deficits, although this was partially offset by robust remittance inflows from overseas workers. Thailand’s large trade surplus shrank, while a deficit in primary income transfers increased. Viet Nam saw its net trade earnings rise substantially in the first half of 2018 from the previous year, and this more than matched an increase in net transfer outflows. Elsewhere in the region, Singapore’s CAB stayed healthy in 2018 on the strength of its net goods trade position, while Brunei Darussalam’s surplus decreased.