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El Niño: APAC-focused Industry Assessment

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The World Meteorological Organization expects the current El Niño to strengthen into late 2026, with impacts potentially extending into 2027. The Asian Development Bank's September 2026 outlook specifically examines El Niño's transmission through agriculture, energy, industry, services and labor markets. Below is an APAC-focused assessment of industries exposed to El Niño. The impacts are potential rather than uniform: El Niño can bring hotter, drier conditions to parts of South and Southeast Asia and Australia, while rainfall effects differ across the region.

El Niño: APAC-focused Industry Assessment
  1. Agriculture and Agribusiness

Key Segments Affected Rice, sugarcane, palm oil, corn, pulses, wheat, livestock farming and irrigation services
Potential Impact Reduced rainfall, heat stress and water shortages can lower crop yields, delay planting, increase irrigation costs and reduce livestock productivity
Most Exposed Areas India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Australia
Key Risk Factor Dependence on seasonal rainfall, limited irrigation access and crop sensitivity to heat
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect Lower agricultural output can increase food prices, reduce farm incomes and disrupt agricultural commodity exports.
  1. Food Processing and Beverages

Key Segments Affected Rice milling, sugar processing, edible oils, coffee, packaged foods, animal feed and meat processing
Potential Impact Lower agricultural output can restrict raw material availability, raise procurement costs and increase production cost volatility.
Most Exposed Areas India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia
Key Risk Factor Reliance on weather-sensitive crops, concentrated sourcing regions and limited inventory buffers
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect Higher input costs may compress processor margins, raise retail food prices and encourage manufacturers to diversify suppliers.
  1. Energy and Power Generation

Key Segments Affected Hydropower, thermal power, electricity distribution, renewable energy and industrial power supply
Potential Impact Reduced reservoir levels can constrain hydropower generation, while higher temperatures increase electricity demand for cooling and can place additional pressure on power systems.
Most Exposed Areas India and hydropower-dependent economies across South and Southeast Asia
Key Risk Factor Dependence on reservoir inflows, limited alternative generation capacity and peak-season electricity demand
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect Reduced power availability and higher electricity costs can disrupt manufacturing, commercial facilities and other energy-intensive industries.
  1. Water Utilities and Irrigation

Key Segments Affected Drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, irrigation networks, desalination and industrial water services
Potential Impact Prolonged dry conditions can reduce reservoir levels, increase groundwater extraction and raise the cost of securing and distributing water.
Most Exposed Areas India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and water-stressed parts of Australia
Key Risk Factor Low storage reserves, inefficient water distribution and competition among agricultural, residential and industrial users
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect Water restrictions can limit crop production and industrial output while increasing investment needs for water storage, reuse and supply infrastructure.
  1. Forestry and Pulp & Paper

Key Segments Affected Timber plantations, pulp production, paper manufacturing, wood processing and forest management

Potential Impact

Drier vegetation and prolonged heat can increase wildfire risks, damage plantations and interrupt timber harvesting and processing.

Most Exposed Areas

Indonesia, Malaysia and parts of Australia

Key Risk Factor

Plantation exposure to drought, flammable vegetation, and limited fire-prevention capacity

Economic/ Supply Chain Effect

Forest fires and plantation damage can disrupt pulp and paper supplies, increase raw-material costs and affect export commitments.

  1. Fisheries and Aquaculture

Key Segments Affected Marine fisheries, shrimp farming, fish farming, hatcheries, seafood processing and aquaculture feed
Potential Impact Changes in ocean temperatures, marine heatwaves and altered nutrient availability can affect fish distribution, wild catches and farmed aquatic species
Most Exposed Areas Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Pacific island economies
Key Risk Factor Sensitivity of aquatic species to temperature changes, oxygen availability, and local marine conditions
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect Lower catches or aquaculture productivity can reduce seafood-processing volumes, weaken coastal livelihoods and increase seafood prices.
  1. Tourism and Hospitality

Key Segments Affected Beach tourism, nature-based tourism, island resorts, outdoor recreation, hospitality and aviation-linked travel
Potential Impact Extreme heat, water shortages, wildfire smoke and ecosystem degradation can reduce visitor comfort, disrupt outdoor activities and increase operating costs for hotels and resorts.
Most Exposed Areas Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia and Pacific island destinations
Key Risk Factor Dependence on outdoor attractions, reliable water supplies, healthy ecosystems and weather-sensitive travel seasons
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect Weather-related disruptions can reduce visitor spending, affect hospitality employment and weaken demand for connected services such as transport, restaurants and tour operators.
  1. Transportation and Logistics

Key Segments Affected Aviation, inland waterway transport, road freight, port operations, warehousing and supply chain logistics
Potential Impact Wildfire smoke can disrupt aviation, while drought-related low water levels can constrain inland water transport and increase freight costs. Extreme heat can also affect road infrastructure and vehicle operating efficiency.
Most Exposed Areas Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, India and parts of mainland Southeast Asia
Key Risk Factor Dependence on weather-sensitive transport routes, navigable waterways, and uninterrupted outdoor operations
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect Transport delays and higher freight costs can disrupt agricultural exports, manufacturing inputs and the delivery of essential goods.
  1. Mining and Metals

Key Segments Affected Copper, iron ore, bauxite, gold mining, mineral processing and metal refining
Potential Impact Drought and water shortages can constrain mineral extraction, ore processing and dust suppression, while extreme heat can affect worker safety and operational efficiency. The Asian Development Bank identifies lower mining output as a potential economic consequence of a severe El Niño in directly affected economies.
Most Exposed Areas Australia, India, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, depending on local rainfall conditions and water availability
Key Risk Factor Dependence on water-intensive processing, remote-site water supplies and outdoor work in high-temperature environments
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect Production interruptions can affect metal availability, commodity prices and downstream industries such as construction, electronics and automotive manufacturing.
  1. Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

Key Segments Affected Hospitals, emergency care, respiratory treatments, heat-related illness management, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical supply distribution
Potential Impact Extreme heat can increase heat-related illnesses, while drought and wildfire smoke can worsen health risks in affected communities. Healthcare facilities may also face higher cooling and water requirements during prolonged hot and dry periods.
Most Exposed Areas India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia and other APAC locations experiencing severe heat, drought or wildfire haze
Key Risk Factor Limited healthcare capacity during periods of high demand, exposure to extreme heat and dependence, on reliable electricity and water supplies
Economic/ Supply Chain Effect High patient demand can strain healthcare resources, raise operating costs and increase requirements for medicines, emergency supplies and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical storage.
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