Fire hotspots across Indonesia and Malaysia have hit a seven-year high for the month of March, with 825 smoldering sites recorded across key palm-oil growing regions - a sharp early-season signal that the region faces serious haze risks in the months ahead.
Segi Enam Advisors’ Principal Khor Yu Leng was quoted in Bloomberg's coverage of the crisis, describing what the data signals about the changing nature of the risk:
"This points to a structural shift, where fire and haze risks are no longer confined to the main dry period but increasingly extend into off-season windows due to prolonged dryness."
- Khor Yu Leng, Principal, Segi Enam Advisors
The warning comes as below-normal rainfall continues across Sarawak, Johor, Sumatra, and parts of Kalimantan. Forecasters expect arid conditions to persist through August, raising the prospect of a crisis comparable to the 2015 regional haze emergency, which caused an estimated USD16 billion in damages.
Singapore has already recorded unusually early haze impacts - months ahead of the typical August–November peak season.
For a better understanding of recent fire events, haze incidences and unseasonal prolonged dry weather, read our insights on the Johor January fires here.
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