Overall
Total credit extended to the private sector increased by N$334.8 million or 0.4%, in March, taking total credit outstanding to N$83.7 billion. On an annual basis PSCE growth increased by 13.0% in March compared to 13.3% in February. A total of N$9.6 billion worth of credit has been approved over the last 12 months with N$1.5 billion worth of credit being approved in 2016 thus far. Of this N$9.6 billion worth of credit issued during the last 12 months, approximately N$4.4 billion was taken up by businesses, while N$4.8 billion was taken up by individuals.
Credit extension to households
Credit extension to households expanded by 0.6% on a monthly basis and 11.5% on an annual basis in March. Credit extension to households has continued to slow as interest rate hikes change consumer trends. It is worth remembering however that the transmission mechanism between rate hikes and PSCE contractions is relatively slow, particularly when interest rate increases are small. We do expect to see further rate hikes going forward and this should lead to a continuation of the slowdown of credit extension to households and possibly contractions on a monthly basis.
During the month household mortgage loans expanded by 0.7% month on month and 11.5% year on year, down from 0.8% and 13.7% respectively and continue to make up the majority of credit extended to households. On a year on year basis the rate at which individuals are taking up mortgage loans has been increasing, from below the average rate of private sector credit extension to households to well above it. On a year on year basis mortgage loan issuance is thus driving credit extension to individuals.
Instalment credit, the second largest component of loans extended to individuals, grew at 12.1% year on year in March, down from 13.1% in February, well off the long term average growth for this component of PSCE. On a month on month basis instalment credit grew by 0.4%, up from 0.1% in February. The lackluster instalment credit growth on a yearly basis can be attributed to tighter monetary policy as well as a slowdown in credit extension by credit providers due to less than ideal liquidity conditions.
Credit extension to corporates
Credit extension to corporates registered a much lower but positive growth of 0.2% from 0.7% on a month-on-month basis and slightly higher annual growth of 15.2% year-on-year in March, from 12.2% in February. Credit extended to corporates during March was again primarily driven by exceptional growth in mortgage loans, up 16.5% year on year and 1.2% month on month. Instalment credit extended to corporates grew at a rate of 6.1% year on year and declined 0.3% on a month on month basis, while overdraft facilities grew by 9.7% year on year and contracted 3.3% on a month on month basis. Although corporate credit has been growing at a far quicker rate than credit extended to individuals, the relatively low base from which this growth stems means that the majority of private sector credit still sits with the individual.
Reserves and money supply
The stock of foreign reserves increased significantly by the end of October due to the inclusion of the proceeds of the successfully issued second Eurobond. Foreign reserves decreased slightly during March. The decrease primarily came as a result of net government payments. International reserves stood at N$24.910 billion at the end of March, down from N$25.216 billion in February. The Eurobond proceeds were a major boost to the reserve position of the country which been declining in real terms.
Outlook
Private sector credit extension continues to grow at an elevated rate, although slowing down in recent months. While the rate of growth has been slowing it should be noted that the base off of which this growth is calculated has grown significantly. A slowdown in the growth rate of credit extended to individuals since 2014 has been compensated for, to a large extent, by the rapid growth of credit extended to corporates. The current rate hiking cycle is likely to put further pressure on credit extended to individuals in the coming months. Should we see a slowdown in the rate of mortgage loans extended to individuals, we could experience contractions in the overall credit extended to individuals. The outlook for credit extended to corporates continues to look good although further rate hikes this year as well as drought conditions may put pressure on this measure too.
Current banking sector liquidity conditions should put further pressure on credit extension growth as funding becomes more expensive. While not ideal, negatives to the slowdown in credit extension, especially to individuals, may be outweighed by longer term positives. A slowdown in credit extension growth should lead to a reduction in the amount of money flowing out of the country for consumptive purposes, boosting the international reserve position of Namibia. Higher interest rates should also lead to an increase in saving by individuals which is at low levels at present. A slowdown in credit extension to more natural rates (GDP growth) should be positive for the economy and prevent it from overheating.