Joint World Bank/IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis - Update
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International Monetary Fund
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In this paper, Mozambique’s financial stability is discussed. The poverty reduction strategy (PARP) aims to respond to these challenges and create the conditions for high, sustained, and inclusive economic growth. The prudent policies resulted in strong economic performance. Executive Directors emphasized the importance of adhering to a prudent borrowing strategy, further strengthening debt management, and improving investment planning. The resilience of the banking system during the global crisis has been noted; and continued vigilance was recommended in light of remaining vulnerabilities.

Abstract

In this paper, Mozambique’s financial stability is discussed. The poverty reduction strategy (PARP) aims to respond to these challenges and create the conditions for high, sustained, and inclusive economic growth. The prudent policies resulted in strong economic performance. Executive Directors emphasized the importance of adhering to a prudent borrowing strategy, further strengthening debt management, and improving investment planning. The resilience of the banking system during the global crisis has been noted; and continued vigilance was recommended in light of remaining vulnerabilities.

This debt sustainability analysis (DSA) updates the joint IMF/IDA DSA from May 27, 2010 reflecting the most recent macroeconomic developments.1 Its main results indicate that Mozambique remains at a low risk of debt distress2. In line with the previous DSA, the government’s plans to temporarily increase public investment partially financed by external borrowing on nonconcessional terms still calls for caution and resolve to improve debt management capacity. As public debt is largely external, the evolution of public debt indicators mirrors that of external debt.

I. Underlying DSA Assumptions

1. This DSA is consistent with the macroeconomic framework outlined in the Staff Report for the 2011 Article IV Consultation and Second Review under the Policy Support Instrument. Compared to the previous DSA,3 this update includes:

  • a. A revised macroeconomic framework, including in particular lower fiscal and current account deficits over the medium term. Fiscal performance has surpassed expectations on account of a sustained revenue administration effort, which is likely to continue. The external accounts are expected to benefit from buoyant mega-project exports, which should more than offset the rising import bill related to surging global food and fuel prices.

  • b. Updated debt stocks. The current DSA is based on the stock of debt as of end-2010, while the previous one was based on the stock of debt as of end-2009.

  • c. A revised public investment profile reflecting a slower recourse to nonconcessional external borrowing (NCB) than projected in the past.4 This DSA update still assumes the full use of the US$900 million NCB ceiling over the three-year program, but projects a slightly slower pace of disbursements. Disbursements under the Portuguese credit line have also been updated, in line with current developments.

  • d. Revised grant financing projections, reflecting a lower grant component in external financing going forward.

Evolution of selected macroeconomic indicators

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Grant-equivalent financing includes grants provided directly to the government and through new borrowing (difference between the face value and the PV of new debt).

II. External Debt Sustainability Analysis

2. Under the baseline scenario, all debt indicators remain well below their respective thresholds, including in the longer term (Table 1a and Figure 1). However, the debt indicators rise significantly towards their respective thresholds over the next five years, as the authorities step up their borrowing to address the country’s infrastructure gap. Stress tests reveal that Mozambique’s external debt is vulnerable to a one-time depreciation of the exchange rate and an exports shock.5

3. The debt sustainability indicators are also sensitive to a recurrence of past macroeconomic performance. However, basing the analysis solely on historical trends (scenario A1) does not take into account the significant structural changes in the Mozambican economy in the post-civil war period and the considerable improvements in the macroeconomic environment under successive Fund-supported programs, all of which should lessen the likelihood of a repeat of the past economic performance. Among other things, there was a shift in the structure of the economy, as large private capital inflows in the early years of the decade in the natural resources sector subsequently supported a surge in exports and a sharp fall in the current account deficit.

4. In a scenario under which nonconcessional resources are not used productively, external debt indicators would deteriorate, but remain below their respective thresholds. The customized high investment-low growth scenario assumes that foreign financing and related spending would remain unchanged relative to the baseline in nominal terms. However, it assumes a much lower rate of return of the public investment projects compared to the baseline (and therefore a much lower impact on GDP growth over the projection period).

III. Public Sector Debt Sustainability

5. The evolution of the public debt indicators (including domestic debt) mirrors that of the external indicators because of the predominance of external debt (Table 2 and Figure 2). The medium-term increase in public debt reflects the temporary surge in public investment financed by external borrowing on nonconcessional terms. However, over the longer term, the public debt stock projections also include a marginal increase in domestic debt from about 3 percent of GDP at end-2010 to 4 percent of GDP in 2031.6

VI. Conclusions

6. Mozambique continues to face a low risk of debt distress. Its external debt levels are expected to remain below their indicative thresholds for debt distress. However, the government’s plans to temporarily increase public investment financed by external borrowing on nonconcessional terms, will noticeably increase debt vulnerability, as debt ratios under the stress tests approach, and in some instances temporarily and marginally exceed, the relevant thresholds. Although Mozambique’s public debt is expected to decline beyond the medium term, stress tests suggest vulnerability, mirroring the large share of external debt in total debt. However, the authorities’ commitments under the current PSI, including the continued pursuit of prudent macroeconomic policies and structural reforms to boost their debt management capacity, should be conducive to containing debt vulnerabilities.

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Mozambique: Indicators of Public and Publicly Guaranteed External Debt under Alternatives Scenarios, 2011-2031 1/

Citation: IMF Staff Country Reports 2011, 149; 10.5089/9781455281565.002.A002

Sources: Country authorities; and staff estimates and projections.1/ The most extreme stress test is the test that yields the highest ratio in 2021. In figure b. it corresponds to a One-time depreciation shock; in c. to a Exports shock; in d. to a One-time depreciation shock; in e. to a Exports shock and in figure f. to a One-time depreciation shock
Table 1a.:

External Debt Sustainability Framework, Baseline Scenario, 2008-2031 1/

(In percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

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Sources: Country authorities; and staff estimates and projections.

Includes both public and private sector external debt. Historical averages and standard deviations are generally derived over the past 10 years, subject to data availability.

Derived as [r - g - ?(1+g)]/(1+g+?+g?) times previous period debt ratio, with r = nominal interest rate; g = real GDP growth rate, and ? = growth rate of GDP deflator in U.S. dollar terms.

Includes exceptional financing (i.e., changes in arrears and debt relief); changes in gross foreign assets; and valuation adjustments. For projections also includes contribution from price and exchange rate changes.

Assumes that PV of private sector debt is equivalent to its face value.

Current-year interest payments divided by previous period debt stock.

Defined as grants, concessional loans, and debt relief.

Grant-equivalent financing includes grants provided directly to the government and through new borrowing (difference between the face value and the PV of new debt).

Table 1b.

Mozambique: Sensitivity Analysis for Key Indicators of Public and Publicly Guaranteed External Debt, 2011-2031

(In percent)

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Sources: Country authorities; and staff estimates and projections.

The stress test A2 (borrowing in less concessional terms) has not been included in this case (in line with the 2010 DSA). Given the commercial financing terms already included in theseline for the investment projects, this scenario would yield unrealistic results, as marginal borrowing under this shock is calculated on the average terms of new borrowing; therefore assuming harsher terms than Mozambique would actually face in the need to cover a financing gap.

Variables include real GDP growth, growth of GDP deflator (in U.S. dollar terms), non-interest current account in percent of GDP, and non-debt creating flows.

Exports values are assumed to remain permanently at the lower level, but the current account as a share of GDP is assumed to return to its baseline level after the shock (implicitly assening adjustment in import levels).

Includes official and private transfers and FDI.

Depreciation is defined as percentage decline in dollar/local currency rate, such that it never exceeds 100 percent.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

Mozambique: Indicators of Public Debt Under Alternative Scenarios, 2011-2031 1/

Citation: IMF Staff Country Reports 2011, 149; 10.5089/9781455281565.002.A002

Sources: Country authorities; and staff estimates and projections.1/ The most extreme stress test is the test that yields the highest ratio in 2021.2/ Revenues are defined inclusive of grants.
Table 2a.

Mozambique: Public Sector Debt Sustainability Framework, Baseline Scenario, 2008-2031

(In percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

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Sources: Country authorities; and staff estimates and projections.

Includes central government external PPG debt and net domestic debt. Historical averages and standard deviations are generally derived over the past 10 years, subject to data availability.

Gross financing need is defined as the primary deficit plus debt service plus the stock of short-term debt at the end of the last period.

Revenues excluding grants.

Debt service is defined as the sum of interest and amortization of medium and long-term debt.

Table 2b.

Mozambique: Sensitivity Analysis for Key Indicators of Public Debt 2011-2031

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Sources: Country authorities; and staff estimates and projections.

Assumes that real GDP growth is at baseline minus one standard deviation divided by the square root of the length of the projection period.

Revenues are defined inclusive of grants.

1

In line with the 2010 Staff Guidance Note, a full joint LIC DSA is expected to be prepared once every three years for PRGT-eligible IDA-only countries. In between, short annual updates are expected to be produced unless macroeconomic conditions since the last full DSA have significantly changed. See: “Staff Guidance Note on the Application of the Joint Fund-Bank Debt Sustainability Framework for Low-Income Countries” (IMF/SM/10/16 and IDA/ SecM2010-0029)

2

The DSA presented in this document is based on the standard low-income countries (LIC) DSA framework. See “Debt Sustainability in Low-Income Countries: Further Considerations on an Operational Framework, Policy Implications” (IMF/SM/05/109 and IDA/SECM2004/0629, 9/10/04)

3

SeeMozambique – Sixth Review Under the Policy Support Instrument, Second Review Under the Arrangement Under the Exogenous Shocks Facility, and Request for a Three-Year Policy Support Instrument. IMF Country report No. 10/174.

4

The authorities have signed two nonconcessional loans to date: (i) in December 2010, a loan from China amounting to US$66 million to modernize Maputo airport; and (ii) in April 2011, a loan from Brazil for the construction of Nacala airport over US$80 million.

5

In last year’s DSA, the standard export shock was tailored to capture the historical volatility over the past two decades of prices of aluminum, which accounts for roughly half of Mozambique’s export proceeds. The current export shock reflects the same modification.

6

This should not affect the availability of credit to the private sector.

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Republic of Mozambique: Staff Report for the 2011 Article IV Consultation, Second Review Under the Policy Support Instrument, and Request for Modification of Assessment Criteria: Staff Report; Staff Supplement; Public Information Notice and Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Mozambique.
Author:
International Monetary Fund
  • Figure 1.

    Mozambique: Indicators of Public and Publicly Guaranteed External Debt under Alternatives Scenarios, 2011-2031 1/

  • Figure 2.

    Mozambique: Indicators of Public Debt Under Alternative Scenarios, 2011-2031 1/