Key takeaways
- CFOs and treasurers in APAC say revenue growth is their top priority for 2026, with 48% of survey respondents ranking it above cost optimization and risk management, even as economic concerns rise.
- Nearly half (44%) of APAC finance leaders anticipate a tougher global economic climate in 2026.
- Digital currencies are gaining attention, but most CFOs in the region cite regulatory uncertainty and knowledge gaps as key barriers to adoption for now.
CFOs and treasurers in Asia Pacific expect economic conditions to remain challenging in 2026, with trade and inflation topping the list of concerns. While digital currencies are gaining attention, most are not yet ready to adopt them, according to a J.P. Morgan survey.
For The CFO View report, J.P. Morgan gathered insights from around 200 CFOs and treasurers across Asia Pacific, representing a diverse mix of corporates—including large cap, mid cap, innovation economy and subsidiary banking segments. Respondents spanned 10 markets and a wide range of industries, reflecting the perspectives of leading organizations with a collective market capitalization exceeding $15 trillion.
Nearly half (44%) of respondents anticipate a tougher economic climate in the year ahead, while only 26% expect conditions to improve. Despite these concerns, 48% say revenue growth is their top priority for 2026. Meanwhile, 41% believe tariffs and trade policy will have the greatest impact on their financial planning for 2026.
“As multinationals and midcap firms prepare for 2026, those that anticipate shifting trade dynamics, invest in market knowledge and embrace new financial technologies will be best positioned to turn uncertainty into growth in Asia Pacific,” said Kerwin Clayton, co-head of Global Corporate Banking, Asia Pacific at J.P. Morgan.
“Amid global uncertainty intra-Asia trade is rapidly increasing, driven by regional economic integration and supply chain diversification, meanwhile the continent’s vast and increasingly digital consumer markets are a powerful magnet for global businesses,” said Oliver Brinkmann, co-head of Global Corporate Banking, Asia Pacific at J.P. Morgan.
When it comes to digital currencies, 40% cite regulatory uncertainty as the main barrier to adoption and notably, 60% of respondents rate their understanding of digital currencies as low or very low—underscoring the need for greater education and clarity in this rapidly evolving space.
Economic outlook: Cautious sentiment for 2026
Finance leaders across Asia Pacific are preparing for a challenging year, with 44% anticipating a tougher economic climate in 2026. Only 26% expect conditions to improve, while 30% foresee stability. This cautious sentiment is shaping strategic decisions and risk management approaches, such as prioritizing cash flow forecasting, focusing on cost optimization and strengthening contingency plans to navigate market volatility and regulatory changes.
CFOs’ view on global economic conditions for 2026
CFOs’ and treasurers’ are cautious on the outlook for global economic conditions for 2026, with 44% expecting conditions to be worse than 2025, 30% expect conditions to remain the same and 26% anticipate improvement
External factors: Trade and inflation dominate concerns
Trade policy and inflation are top of mind for APAC CFOs and treasurers as they plan for 2026. In 2025, shifting tariffs and evolving trade agreements led to increased costs, supply chain delays and uncertainty for many corporates in the region.
Looking ahead, 41% expect tariffs and trade policy to have the greatest impact, with ongoing disruptions likely to affect cross-border operations, sourcing strategies and pricing. Inflation and rising operational costs (31%) also remain significant concerns, while interest rates and supply chain disruption are less pressing but still on the radar.
Key external factors impacting financial planning
Tariffs and trade policy are expected to have the greatest impact on financial planning in 2026, cited by 41% of CFOs and treasurers, followed by inflation and increasing operational costs.
Business priorities: Growth takes center stage
Even as economic concerns rise, APAC CFOs and treasurers remain focused on growth. Nearly half (48%) of respondents say revenue growth is their top priority for 2026, outpacing digital transformation and AI adoption (26%), cost optimization (20%), and risk management (6%). Many are pursuing new market opportunities, investing in technology and streamlining operations—strategies put in place during 2025 that are expected to drive expansion and resilience in the year ahead.
“Growth in the midcap sector is being driven by an acceleration in companies of all sizes pursuing their regional and global ambitions, more and more sophisticated supply chains across a host of new and traditional industries, as well as opportunities in technology and innovation which provide for meaningful growth,” said Clayton.
Corporates’ top priorities for 2026
Revenue growth is the top priority for organizations in 2026, selected by 48% of CFOs and treasurers, followed by digital transformation and AI adoption at 26%.
Digital currencies: Regulatory uncertainty and knowledge gaps
Digital currencies are a hot topic in treasury conversations, but adoption remains limited for now. Regulatory uncertainty is the top concern for 40% of respondents, while 35% rate their own understanding of digital currencies as moderate and only 3% as expert. Security, volatility and lack of internal expertise are also barriers, highlighting the need for education and clearer regulatory guidance.
Biggest concerns regarding digital currencies
Regulatory uncertainty is the biggest concern for CFOs and treasurers regarding the use of digital currencies, cited by 40%, followed by security and fraud risks at 34%.
Self-rated understanding of digital currencies
Most CFOs and treasurers in APAC rate their understanding of digital currencies as low, with 40% selecting the lowest rating.
Liquidity management: Forecasting and volatility lead challenges
Liquidity management remains a core concern for APAC CFOs and treasurers, with 38% citing cash flow forecasting as their biggest challenge and 35% pointing to market volatility. Regulatory constraints (21%) and access to credit (6%) round out the list.
“In a region marked by diverse markets, rapid growth and frequent currency fluctuations, maintaining clear visibility over cash flows is critical for seizing opportunities,” said Brinkmann.
“As companies expand across borders and navigate complex supply chains, accurate forecasting and agile liquidity strategies have become essential tools for financial resilience,” he added.
CFOs name their biggest liquidity challenges
Cash flow forecasting is identified as the biggest liquidity challenge for 2026 by 38% of CFOs and treasurers, followed by market volatility at 35%.
AI in finance: Analytics and automation drive adoption
AI adoption is accelerating in APAC finance operations, with 44% using it for data analytics and forecasting and 36% for automating routine tasks. However, only 7% are implementing AI in risk management and compliance and 13% report not currently using AI in finance operations at all, indicating room for further innovation and investment. Despite the heavy focus on AI integration, the figures suggest many corporates are still in the early stages of implementation, focusing on select use cases rather than broad integration.
How CFOs plan to leverage AI in finance operations
Enhancing data analytics and forecasting is the leading way CFOs and treasurers plan to leverage AI in finance operations, selected by 44% of respondents.
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