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Middle East and Central Asia > Saudi Arabia

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Cover Staff Climate Notes
Key Challenges Faced by Fossil Fuel Exporters during the Energy Transition
Diego Mesa Puyo
,
Augustus J Panton
,
Tarun Sridhar
,
Martin Stuermer
,
Christoph Ungerer
, and
Alice Tianbo Zhang
The global energy transition is affecting fossil fuel exporters from multiple angles. It is adding to longstanding uncertainties on relative movements of fossil fuel demand and supply—which impact fossil fuel-related exports, fiscal flows, investment and subsequently external and fiscal accounts, economic growth, and employment. While policymakers are very familiar with these challenges, they now also face expectations of a permanent decline in the long-run global demand for fossil fuels. Key factors that could determine country-level impacts include (i) the type of fossil fuel a country exports (ii) extraction costs and (iii) country characteristics. The monitoring and mitigation of fiscal risks will need to be stepped up. Fiscal policy also has a role in reducing domestic emissions, encouraging adoption of low-carbon technologies, and helping those most vulnerable to changes from the transition. Broader macroeconomic risks can be reduced by accelerating ongoing structural reforms that support alternative engines of growth. Low- or zero-carbon emission energy industries could offer new avenues that build on existing fossil fuel knowledge and infrastructure. Concurrently, improved financial regulation and supervision could reduce financial sector exposures. Finally, international coordination on the design and implementation of climate policy as well as international transfer schemes (financing and capacity development) could reduce uncertainties surrounding the transition path and associated adverse economic consequences.
Keywords:
Macroeconomic policy; climate change; energy transition; fossil fuel exporters; commodity market; climate mitigation; economic diversification; international coordination; IMF staff Climate note; IMF staff Climate Note 2024/001; fossil fuel exporter; building financial asset buffer; cost exporter; Non-renewable resources; Exports; Oil; Renewable energy; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
OPEC and the Oil Market
Mr. Andrea Pescatori
and
Yousef F. Nazer
This paper studies the historical importance of OPEC for oil price fluctuations. An event-study approach is used to identify the effects of OPEC announcements on oil price fluctuations. Results show that price volatility is higher than typical around OPEC meetings. Also, members' compliance, a proxy for credibility, has strongly fluctuated over time. An ordered multinomial logit framework identifies the main factors that explain OPEC's decisions to cut, maintain, or boost members' oil production and is able to successfully predict OPEC meeting outcomes 66 percent of the time, between 1989 and 2019. Cyclical oil price fluctuations (as opposed to persistent shifts in levels) drive OPEC’s decisions, suggesting that OPEC's objective is to stabilize the oil price rather than countering fundamental shifts in demand and supply. Low OPEC’s market share reduces the probability of a production cut. Finally, the transparency of OPEC's statements has modestly improved between 2002 and 2019.
Keywords:
OPEC Meetings; Credibility; Oil Price; Text Analysis; OPEC+; OPEC meeting; OPECS decision; OPEC announcement; OPECS objective; OPECS statement; Oil prices; Oil; Oil consumption; Commodity price fluctuations; Oil production; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Saudi Arabia: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
The authorities responded quickly and decisively to the COVID-19 crisis and the economy is recovering. COVID-19 cases are well below the 2020 peak and vaccination is progressing. The exit from the remaining COVID-related policy support needs to be carefully managed and the Vision 2030 reform agenda continued.
Keywords:
Policy support measure; GDP estimate; policy support; totaling SDR; financial asset; employment support program; Oil; COVID-19; Oil prices; Fiscal stance; Income; Global; Europe; Asia and Pacific
Cover IMF Working Papers
Commodity Shocks and Exchange Rate Regimes: Implications for the Caribbean Commodity Exporters
Mr. Ali J Al-Sadiq
and
Ms. Inci Ötker
Declining commodity prices during mid-2014-2016 posed significant challenges to commodity-exporting economies. The severe terms of trade shock associated with a sharp fall in world commodity prices have raised anew questions about the viability of pegged exchange rate regimes. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures needed to contain its spread have been associated with a significant disruption in several economic sectors, in particular, travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, adding to the downward pressure on commodity prices, a sharp fall in foreign exchange earnings, and depressed economic activity in most commodity exporters. This paper reviews country experiences with different exchange rate regimes in coping with commodity price shocks and explores the role of flexible exchange rates as a shock absorber, analyzing the macroeconomic impact of adverse term-of-trade shocks under different regimes using event study and panel vector autoregression techniques. It also analyzes, conceptually and empirically, policy and technical considerations in making exchange rate regime choices and discusses the supporting policies that should accompany a given regime choice to make that choice sustainable. It offers lessons that could be helpful to the Caribbean commodity-exporters.
Keywords:
commodity shock; commodity exporter; regime choice; Caribbean commodity-exporter; I. commodity terms-of-trade Index; Exchange rate arrangements; Exchange rate flexibility; Exchange rates; Exchange rate adjustments; Caribbean; Global; Africa
Cover Regional Economic Outlook, April 2021, Middle East and Central Asia
Regional Economic Outlook, April 2021, Middle East and Central Asia
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.

Abstract

A year into the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the race between vaccine and virus entered a new phase in the Middle East and Central Asia, and the path to recovery in 2021 is expected to be long and divergent. The outlook will vary significantly across countries, depending on the pandemic’s path, vaccine rollouts, underlying fragilities, exposure to tourism and contact-intensive sectors, and policy space and actions. 2021 will be the year of policies that continue saving lives and livelihoods and promote recovery, while balancing the need for debt sustainability and financial resilience. At the same time, policymakers must not lose sight of the transformational challenges to build forward better and accelerate the creation of more inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and green economies. Regional and international cooperation will be key complements to strong domestic policies.

Keywords:
COVID-19; pandemic; recovery; financial crisis; public health; lockdown; social distancing; IMF staff calculation; net bank financing; financing risk; financing constraint; policy space constraint; Oil; Emerging and frontier financial markets; Government debt planning; Oil prices; Middle East and Central Asia; Global; Central Asia and the Caucasus; Middle East; North Africa
Cover Policy Papers
Economic Prospects and Policy Challenges for the GCC Countries
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
The COVID-19 pandemic is having far-reaching consequences for the global economy. Measures to contain the spread of the virus have led to sharp declines in economic activity across the globe, particularly in 2020Q2. The hardest hit sectors have been those requiring intensive human contact, such as tourism, transportation, services, and construction, while, in general, IT-intensive activities have fared better. The economic contraction is most significant in advanced economies. The GCC countries face a double impact from the coronavirus and lower oil prices. GCC authorities have implemented a range of appropriate measures to mitigate the economic damage, including fiscal packages, relaxation of monetary and macroprudential rules, and the injection of liquidity into the banking system, and there are recent signs of improvement. Low oil prices have caused a sharp deterioration of external and fiscal balances, and fiscal strains are evident in countries with higher debt levels.
Keywords:
PP; GCC country; IMF staff calculation; GCC authorities; labor market; GCC economy; GCC inflation; central bank; COVID-19; Oil prices; Fiscal consolidation; Oil; Global
Cover Regional Economic Outlook, April 2020, Middle East and Central Asia
Regional Economic Outlook, April 2020, Middle East and Central Asia
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.

Abstract

Countries of the Middle East and Central Asia region have been hit by two large and reinforcing shocks, resulting in significantly weaker growth projections in 2020. In addition to the devastating toll on human health, the COVID-19 pandemic and the plunge in oil prices are causing economic turmoil in the region, with fragile and conflict affected states particularlyhard-hit given already large humanitarian and refugee challenges and weak health infrastructures. The immediate priority for policies is to save lives with needed health spending, regardless of fiscal space, while preserving engines of growth with targeted support to households and hard-hit sectors. In this context, the IMF has been providing emergency assistance to help countries in the region during these challenging times. Further ahead, economic recoveries should be supported with broad fiscal and monetary measures where policy space is available, and by seeking external assistance where space is limited.

Keywords:
REO; MENAP oil exporter; CCA oil exporter; financial support; exporter; IMF staff calculation; CCA region; CCA oil importer; MENAP oil importer; Oil prices; Oil; COVID-19; Fiscal stance; Health care; Global; Middle East and Central Asia; Middle East; North Africa; Central Asia and the Caucasus; financing needs
Cover Departmental Papers
The Future of Oil and Fiscal Sustainability in the GCC Region
Mr. Tokhir N Mirzoev
,
Ling Zhu
,
Yang Yang
,
Ms. Tian Zhang
,
Mr. Erik Roos
,
Mr. Andrea Pescatori
, and
Mr. Akito Matsumoto
The oil market is undergoing fundamental change. New technologies are increasing the supply of oil from old and new sources, while rising concerns over the environment are seeing the world gradually moving away from oil. This spells a significant challenge for oil-exporting countries, including those of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) who account for a fifth of the world’s oil production. The GCC countries have recognized the need to reduce their reliance on oil and are all implementing reforms to diversify their economies as well as fiscal and external revenues. Nevertheless, as global oil demand is expected to peak in the next two decades, the associated fiscal imperative could be both larger and more urgent than implied by the GCC countries’ existing plans.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; price; demand; GCC country; GCC region; oil demand; hydrocarbon GDP; market share; price assumption; GCC government; Oil prices; Oil consumption; Oil; Fiscal consolidation; Fiscal stance; Global; data IMF Library; research department; Energy conservation; Middle East and Central Asia
Cover Regional Economic Outlook, October 2019, Middle East and Central Asia
Regional Economic Outlook, October 2019, Middle East and Central Asia
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.

Abstract

Growth in the near term remains subdued for oil exporters in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAP) region, amid volatile oil prices, precarious global growth, elevated fiscal vulnerabilities, and heightened geopolitical tensions. In addition, declining productivity is dampening medium-term growth prospects. To reduce dependence on oil prices and pave the way for more sustainable growth, fiscal consolidation needs to resume, underpinned by improved medium-term fiscal frameworks. In parallel, structural reforms and further financial sector development would boost foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic private investment and foster diversification, thus contributing to improved productivity and potential growth.

Keywords:
REO; IMF staff calculation; country; CCA country; oil exporter; CCA region; oil importer; Oil prices; Oil; Capital inflows; Middle East and Central Asia; Global; Middle East; Central Asia and the Caucasus; North Africa; country abbreviation
Cover IMF Working Papers
Macroeconomic Effects of Reforms on Three Diverse Oil Exporters: Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UK
Samya Beidas-Strom
and
Marco Lorusso
We build and estimate open economy two-bloc DSGE models to study the transmission and impact of shocks in Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. After accounting for country-specific fiscal and monetary sectors, we estimate their key policy and structural parameters. Our findings suggest that not only has output responded differently to shocks due to differing levels of diversification and structural and policy settings, but also the responses to fiscal consolidation differ: Russia would benefit from a smaller state foot-print, while in Saudi Arabia, unless this is accompanied by structural reforms that remove rigidities, output would fall. We also find that lower oil prices need not be bad news given more oil-intensive production structures. However, lower oil prices have hurt these oil producers as their public finances depend heavily on oil, among other factors. Productivity gains accompanied by ambitious structural reforms, along with fiscal and monetary reforms could support these economies to achieve better outcomes when oil prices fall, including via diversifying exports.
Keywords:
WP; exchange rate; monetary policy; trade balance; labour market; DSGE model; Economic diversification; Shocks and commodity exporters; Bayesian estimation; Fiscal policy; Inflation targeting; Managed float; Oil intensity; nominal interest rate; state footprint; UK macroeconomy; UK experience; price indexation; UK policy rate; UK model; core inflation; UK state; UK benchmark; oil demand; Oil prices; Oil; gas and mining taxes; Consumption; Global