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MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE STATEMENT FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2019

This statement by the Monetary Policy Committee discusses the decision to maintain the Policy Rate and provides an overview of global economic developments, domestic economic developments, macroeconomic outlook, and key liquidity influences.

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MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE STATEMENT FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2019

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  1. MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE STATEMENT FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2019 Governor’s Presentation to the Media August 21, 2019 Bank of Zambia

  2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • Decision of the Monetary Policy Committee • Global Economic Developments • Domestic Economic Developments • Macroeconomic Outlook • Conclusion

  3. MONETARY POLICY DECISION • At its Meeting held on 19 – 20 August 2019, Monetary Policy Committee decided to maintain the Policy Rate at 10.25%. • In arriving at the decision, the Committee took into account the following factors: • The projected inflation that will remain above the upper bound of the 6-8% target range for much of the forecast horizon, but revert to the target range towards the end of the forecast period; • Further weakening of near-term growth prospects since the last MPC Meeting; • Liquidity challenges; and, • Risks to financial stability.

  4. GLOBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS Global growth sloweddown in Q2 2019, with advanced economies registering weaker growth. Subdued growth was largely due to: • decline in investment and demand across advanced and emerging markets economies; • reduction in global trade due to on-going trade disputes between the USA and China; • continued Brexit-related uncertainties; and • rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

  5. GLOBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS Copper prices declined by 1.3% in Q2 while crude oil prices rose by 3.5% . Table 1: Commodity Prices Source: World Bank

  6. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSInflation The increase in inflation was largely due to rising food prices and the pass-through from the depreciation of the Kwacha. Figure 1: Annual Inflation (%) Table 2: Annual Inflation (%) Source: Central Statistical Office

  7. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSMonetary Policy Operations Liquidity conditions tightened in Q2 with the aggregate current account balance for banks declining to K0.9 billion from K2.2 billion in Q1. As liquidity conditions tightened, the overnight interbank rate rose to 10.05% from 9.90%. To keep the interbank rate within the Policy Rate corridor, the Bank of Zambia supplied K1.5 billion through open market operations (Table 3). Figure 2: BoZ Policy Rate and Interbank Rate (%) Source: Bank of Zambia

  8. Key Liquidity Influences (K ’billion) DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSMonetary Policy Operations Table 3: Key Liquidity Influences (K’billion) Source: Bank of Zambia

  9. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSGovernment Securities Market Demand for Government securities declined as liquidity conditions remained tight Table 4: Government Securities Auctions Source: Bank of Zambia

  10. Despite a fall in demand, a surplus of K0.7 billion was raised in Q2 compared to a deficit of K0.9 billion in Q1. Consequently, the outstanding stock of Government securities (at face value) rose by 3.5% to K60.2 billion. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSGovernment Securities Market Figure 3: Government Securities (K’billion) Figure 4: Govt. Securities Holdings (K’billion) Source: Bank of Zambia

  11. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSGovernment Securities Market Yield rates on Treasury bills rose to 24.3% from 22.6% in Q1 Government bonds yield rates increased to 29.6% from 27.4%. The increase was largely attributed to tight liquidity conditions. Figure 5: Government securities yield rates (%) Source: Bank of Zambia

  12. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSBanks’ Nominal Interest Rates Commercial banks’ nominal lending rate rose to 25.4% in June 2019 from 24.6% in March. Lending rates on new large Kwacha loans widened to a range of 11.5% - 46.0% from 10.3% - 34.5% in Q1 2019. Savings rates generally increased, with the 180-day deposit rate rising to 10.1% from 9.8% in March. The rise in interest rates followed an upward adjustment in the Policy Rate in May and tight liquidity conditions. Figure 6: Nominal Interest Rates (%) Source: Bank of Zambia

  13. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSDomesticCredit Figure 7: Contribution to Credit Growth (Y-o-Y, Percentage) Although growth in total domestic credit growth increased to 20% from 17.9% y-o-y, growth in credit to the private sector slowed down to 21.4% from 22.5% y-o-y. Growth in total domestic credit was on account of increased lending to Government. Slow down in credit growth to the private sector is a reflection of tight credit conditions. Source: Bank of Zambia

  14. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSMoney Supply Money supply (M3) growth slowed down to 15.4%, year-on-year, from 17.6% the previous quarter, largely due to the decline in foreign currency deposits. Figure 8: Money Supply Source: Bank of Zambia

  15. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSForeign Exchange Market In Q2, the Kwacha depreciated against all major trading partner currencies. Elevated demand related to petroleum imports, a stronger US dollar, and negative market sentiments arising from credit rating downgrades were the major drivers. Figure 9: Exchange rate developments Table 5: Exchange rate developments Source: Bank of Zambia

  16. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSForeign Exchange Market Net supply of foreign exchange rose to US $237.1 million from US $212.4 million in Q1. In Q2, the Bank of Zambia purchased US $140 million from the market, up from US $103 million in Q1 2019. Figure 10: Supply and Demand (US$’million) Source: Bank of Zambia

  17. Preliminary data for Q2 2019 indicate that the current account deficit narrowed to US $168.0 million from US$246.4 million in Q1, driven by favorable performance of the primary income account which more than outweighed the reduction in the goods account. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSExternal Sector Table 6: Balance of Payments (US$’ million) Source: Bank of Zambia

  18. Preliminary estimates from CSO indicate a slowdown in real GDP growth to 2.6% in Q1 2019 compared to 2.7% achieved in the corresponding period in 2018. Indicators of economic activity point to reduced growth in Q2 2019. In addition, liquidity challenges and constrained aggregate demand continued to weigh on economic activity. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSReal Sector

  19. MACROECONOMIC OUTLOOK Inflation Inflation is projected to remain above the upper bound of the 6-8% target range for much of the forecast horizon on account of the persistent rise in food prices due to low agricultural food output. However, towards the end of the forecast horizon, inflation is expected to revert to the target range as pressure on food prices dissipates. Key upside risks to the inflation outlook include: • persistent drought conditions that may result in reduced domestic and regional agricultural production and lower electricity generation; • higher than programmed fiscal deficits; • elevated external debt service payments; and • weaker than projected global growth. The foregoing notwithstanding, inflationary pressures may be moderated by subdued domestic aggregate demand and relatively loose global financial conditions.

  20. MACROECONOMIC OUTLOOK Real GDP Growth Real GDP growth is projected to decline to 2.0% in 2019 from 3.7% in 2018 (Ministry of Finance). The slowdown largely reflects the contraction in agriculture production and constrained electricity generation due to the drought. The lower than anticipated mining output due to operational challenges at some major mines is also projected to weigh on growth in 2019.

  21. CONCLUSION The MPC noted elevated inflationary pressures in Q2, and projected inflation remaining above the upper bound of the 6-8% target range for much of the forecast horizon, but expected to revert to the target range towards the end of the forecast horizon. Upside risks are judged to dominate the inflation outlook, and if they materialise, may lead to higher inflation outcomes. The Committee also noted, since the last MPC Meeting, the further weakening of near-term growth prospects, liquidity challenges, and risks to financial stability. Addressing large fiscal deficits, elevated debt and debt service levels, high domestic arrears and liquidity challenges remains critical for overall macroeconomic stability.

  22. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS…

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