The US trade deficit really blew out in September.
One major contributor is ASEAN exports to the US that are booming.
ASEAN's exports to the U.S. topped those to China for the second consecutive quarter in the April to June period, underscoring America's growing importance to the region as the U.S.-China trade war intensifies and China's economy slows, prompting shifts in global supply chains. … The data shows the 10 ASEAN member countries' exports to the U.S. reached $74 billion in the April to June quarter, up 11% from the same period a year ago, topping its China-bound exports of $71 billion, 3% higher on the year. Among the region's major economies, the Philippines saw the highest year-on-year increase in exports to the U.S., rising 35%, followed by Vietnam at 24% and Malaysia at 11%. "Aside from the resilient performance of the U.S. economy, which implies more demand from most other countries, this [increase] could be a result of pivots in global supply chains away from China since the pandemic," said Jun Neri, lead economist at the Bank of the Philippine Islands.
source: Asia Nikkei