ECONOMIC REVIEW Third Quarter July - September 2017 in This Issue
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www.econsult.co.bw compiled by KEITH JEFFERIS SETHUNYA SEJOE ECONOMIC REVIEW third quarter july - september 2017 in this issue ... COMMENTARY KEY NEWS MACRO- SPECIAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC FEATURES 1 VARIABLES 3 6 DATA 11 12 COMMENTARY Some positive developments, but offset by concerns about exports and budget deficits Introduction As usual there was a mixed bag of economic developments and data releases in the third quarter of 2017, with some positive developments balanced by persistent or emerging concerns. A fall in inflation and lower unemployment were encouraging, as were higher credit growth and re- duced arrears on bank lending. A sharp decline in exports, however, could be indicative of deeper problems, as are projections of substantial budget deficits ahead. Economic Growth and Diamond had been largely cleared and production Production could be increased modestly in line with Annual GDP growth fell to 3.1% in Q2, improved market conditions. However, the down from 3.9% in the previous quarter, global diamond market is still quite volatile, but this was pretty much in line with ex- and sales have faded somewhat in Q3. pectations, and growth should pick up later in the year. Part of the decline is due to Inflation and Banking the continued impact of the BCL closure Inflation dropped to 3.2% in Q3, a wel- in October 2016, which will work its way come development, reflecting lower South out of the GDP growth numbers by Q4. African inflation as well as a lack of domes- However, this has been partially offset by tic inflationary pressures. We believe that a welcome pick up in diamond production. this low rate of inflation will be sustained, Debswana’s production had been held and it could even fall below the lower end back for some time following the diamond of the Bank of Botswana’s 3-6 percent in- market weakness in 2015, leading to some flation objective range. Subsequently, the production cuts as well as stockpiling of BoB cut the Bank Rate by 50 basis points diamonds. Better sales in 2016 and early to 5.0%. 2017, however, meant that this stockpile page 1 www.econsult.co.bw In the banking sector, the concerns about tight liquidity of it was due to lower export volumes. This is extremely that we raised in the previous review turned out to have worrying, given the fundamental role of export-led growth been driven by incorrect data on banking sector liquidity to the Botswana economy. It will be important to observe published by the BoB. Once the data had been corrected, this closely and see if the trend continues, or if data adjust- liquidity was revealed to be much healthier than previously ments cause it to disappear. thought, so the immediate concerns have receded. Further- more, bank credit growth has picked up from previous very Government Budget low levels, especially bank lending to the private sector. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED) This is an encouraging sign regarding business conditions, released the 2017/18 Budget Strategy Paper in September. especially when taken together with evidence of declining This showed the budget outcome for the most recent com- levels of arrears on bank lending to both businesses and pleted fiscal year (2016/17) as well as the revised budget households. for 2017/18 and projected budget for the coming financial year, 2018/19. Unemployment New data from Statistics Botswana show that unemploy- The good news is that the 2016/17 budget outcome was ment in 2015/16 was 17.6%, lower than the previous better than had been anticipated, with a relatively small figure of 19.8% in 2013, and certainly lower than most budget deficit of P535 million, or only 0.3% of GDP – in people expected. We discuss this in more detail in the Fea- other words, very close to a balanced budget. The posi- ture on page 12. Our assessment is the reported rate is tive outcome was mainly due to higher than expected min- probably correct, although driven more by people leaving eral revenues (given the recovery in the diamond market the labour force than a rapid rate of job creation. in 2016), as well as dividend payments from the Bank of Government BudgetBotswana, which together offset disappointing collections Foreign trade of VAT and non-mineral income tax. Tracking of developments with regard to foreign trade and The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED) released the Nevertheless, the budget position is expected to deteriorate Unemploymentthe balance of payments is has been hindered by problems 2017/18 Budget Strategy Paper in September. This showed the budget outcome with the reporting of data on imports. Since BURS intro- for the most recent completed fiscal year (2016/17)sharply in the current and forthcoming financial as well as the revised years, with duced a new Customs Management System in January big deficits expected due to higher spending. The deficits New data from Statistics Botswana show that unemployment in 2015/16 was budget for 2017/18 and projected budget for the coming financial year, 2018/19. this year, Statistics Botswana has been unable to accu- will need to be financed by a drawdown of government 17.6%, lower than the previous figure of 19.8% in 2013, and certainly lower than The good news is that the 2016/17 budget outcome was better than had been savings (currently around P30 billion) and/or an increase in most people expected. rately capture dataWe discuss this in more detail from BURS, and as in the Fea a resultture on page the pubXX-. anticipated, with a relatively small budget deficit of P535 million, or only 0.3% of Our assessment is the reported rate is probably correct, althoulished data are significantly under-recording gh driven more by imports. We GDP government– in other words, very close to a balanced budget. The positive o borrowing. While there is no immediate probutcome was - people leaving the labour force than a rapid rate of job creaForeign trade tion. understand that this issue is being addressed and should mainly due to lem in financinghigher than expected mineral revenues (given the recovery in th the projected deficits, which are manage- e be resolved before our next review. diamond market in 2016), as well as dividend payments from the able for a year or two, they are not sustainable in the longerBank of Tracking of developments with regard to foreign trade and the balance of Botswanaterm, as, which tog they wouldether offset disappoint collections of VAT and non quickly deplete the financial buffers -mineral payments is has been hindered by problems with Reportedly, data on exports have notthe reporting of data on been affected in the income taxthat government. has built up over several decades in order imports. Since BURS introduced a new Customs Management System in January this year, same Statiway.stics Botswana has been unable to accurately capture data from Nevertheless, the published data show that Nevertheless, the budget position is expected to deteriorate sharply in the to cope with fluctuations in revenues and adjustment away BURS, and as a result the published data are significantly underexports in the first half of 2017 were down by-recording a quarter current and forthcoming financial yearfrom mineral-led growth. Hence,s, with big deficits expected due to ministries will be under higher imports. compared, We understand that t to the first his issue is being addressed and should be half of 2016. The decline occurred spending. severe pressureThe deficits wil to cutl need to be financed by a drawdown of government back some of their spending propos- resolved before our next review. across almost all categories of exports. In part, this was savings (currently around P30 billion) and/or an increase in goals in order to bring overall expenditure back in linevernment with Reportedlydue to exchange, data on exports have not been affected in the same way. rate changes – the pula strengthened by borrowing. While there is no immediate problem in financing therevenues which are expected to decline in the medium term projected Nevertheless, the published data show that exports in the first half of 2017 were around 6% against the US dollar over the period – but most deficits, (as a shareand are manageable for a year or two, they are not of GDP). sustainable in the down by a quarter compared to the first half of 2016. The decline occurred longer term, as they would quickly deplete the financial buffers that government across almost all categories of exports. In part this was due to exchange rate changes – the pula strengthened by around 6% against the US dollar over the has built up over several decades in order to cope with fluctuations in revenues period – but most of it was due to lower export volumes. This is extremely and adjustment away from mineral-led growth. Hence ministries will be under severe pressure to cut back some of their spending proposals in order to bring worrying, given the fundamental role of exportFigure 1: Change in Exports, -H1led growth to the Bo 2016 – H1 2017tswana Figure 2: Government Budget, 2016/17 – 2018/19 economy. It will be important to observe this closely and see if the trend overall expenditure back in line with revenues, which are expected to decline in Figure 1: Change in Exports, H1 2016 – H1 2017 continues, or if data adjustments cause it to disappear. the medium term (as a share of GDP). Figure 2: Government Budget, 2016/17 – 2018/19 80 20% 70 0% 60 -20% 50 -40% 40 30 -60% P billion 20 -80% 10 -100% 0 -10 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019 Revenue Spending Budget balance Source: Source:Calculations based on Calculations based on Botswana Botswana International Merchandise Trade StatisticsInternational Merchandise Trade Statistics Source: MFED Budget Strategy Paper, 2018/19 Source: MFED Budget Strategy Paper, 2018/19 page 2 www.econsult.co.bw KEY ECONOMIC VARIABLES Annual GDP Growth Sectoral GDP Growth 30% Annual GDP Growth Sectoral GDP Growth Annual GDP Growth WaterSectoral & Elec.