TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The ASEAN Statistics released the latest economic data showing that the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the region grew by 5.1 percent in 2013. Additionally, ASEAN recorded an increase in nominal GDP from US$2.3 trillion in 2012 to US$2.4 trillion in 2013.

The data also showed that in 2013, Indonesia, along with Thailand and Malaysia, was included in the top three countries with the highest nominal GDP among other ASEAN countries; recording US$863 billion, US$388 billion and US$312 billion, respectively.

Meanwhile in the same year, Singapore achieved the highest per capita GDP at US$55,183 followed by Brunei Darussalam at US$39,677. In addition both countries had lower inflation rates at 1.5 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

In 2013, ASEAN recorded a US$100 billion surplus in international merchandise trade, with export receipts of US$1.3 trillion and import payments of US$1.2 trillion. Top partners in the international trade include China, European Union, Japan and the United States. The highest income for ASEAN was recorded from exports of electrical machinery and equipment at US$277 billion. Meanwhile, mineral fuels, mineral oils and its derivate products were the highest imported commodities, valued at US$274 billion.

ASEAN booked US$122 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2013, increasing from US$114 billion in 2012. During the period 2011-2013, ASEAN received the highest FDI from European Union and Japan, accounting for almost 40 percent of the total ASEAN FDI inflows. In 2013, European Union's FDI represented 22 percent of total ASEAN FDI inflows, followed by Japan (18.7 percent) and ASEAN. (*)