Morocco Experiences Slowdown in Growth of Bank Loans

A general view of the Central Bank of Morocco in Rabat. Reuters
A general view of the Central Bank of Morocco in Rabat. Reuters
TT

Morocco Experiences Slowdown in Growth of Bank Loans

A general view of the Central Bank of Morocco in Rabat. Reuters
A general view of the Central Bank of Morocco in Rabat. Reuters

Bank lending showed year-on-year growth of 4.5 percent in December 2020 compared to 5.2 percent in November 2020, with an increase in loans to the non-financial sector of 3.9 percent, according to Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM).

“This change reflects the slowdown in the growth of loans to private non-financial corporations from six percent to 4.7 percent and to public non-financial corporations at 0.5 percent, following a +4.4 percent compared to the previous month, BAM explained in its memo on key indicators of monetary statistics for December 2020.

It further highlighted the acceleration in the growth of loans to households from 2.7 percent to 3.4 percent.

The distribution of loans granted to non-financial sector according to the economic purpose indicates a continuous decline in consumer loans from 3.3 percent to 4.2 percent, an acceleration in the growth of loans to real estate by 2.1 percent to 2.5 percent and a decrease in equipment loans of three percent after +1.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the monetary aggregate (M3), which represents the money supply, recorded an annual growth of 8.5 percent in December 2020 compared to 7.7 percent in November 2020, BAM noted in its latest monetary statistics.

This development reflects the increase in the growth of demand deposits at banks to 10.6 percent, the further decrease in term accounts from 12.9 percent to 9.6 percent and the deceleration in the growth of currency in circulation from 20.6 percent to 20.1 percent.

Year-on-year, the M3 increased in December by 2.7 percent to amount to1,486.8 billion dirhams, mainly reflecting the four percent increase in sight deposits with banks and 1.7 percent in accounts term, BAM said.

On the other hand, the evolution of M3 is mainly attributable to the increase in bank credit of 2.1 percent and that of official reserve assets of 9.9 percent, the bank noted.



IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
TT

IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the third review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion bailout on Saturday but warned that the economy remains vulnerable.
In a statement, the global lender said it would release about $333 million, bringing total funding to around $1.3 billion, to the crisis-hit South Asian nation. It said signs of an economic recovery were emerging, Reuters reported.
In a note of caution, it said "the critical next steps are to complete the commercial debt restructuring, finalize bilateral agreements with official creditors along the lines of the accord with the Official Creditor Committee and implement the terms of the other agreements. This will help restore Sri Lanka's debt sustainability."
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades in 2022 with a severe dollar shortage sending inflation soaring to 70%, its currency to record lows and its economy contracting by 7.3% during the worst of the fallout and by 2.3% last year.
"Maintaining macroeconomic stability and restoring debt sustainability are key to securing Sri Lanka's prosperity and require persevering with responsible fiscal policy," the IMF said.
The IMF bailout secured in March last year helped stabilize economic conditions. The rupee has risen 11.3% in recent months and inflation disappeared, with prices falling 0.8% last month.
The island nation's economy is expected to grow 4.4% this year, the first increase in three years, according to the World Bank.
However, Sri Lanka still needs to complete a $12.5 billion debt restructuring with bondholders, which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake aims to finalize in December.
Sri Lanka will enter into individual agreements with bilateral creditors including Japan, China and India needed to complete a $10 billion debt restructuring, Dissanayake said.
He won the presidency in September, and his leftist coalition won a record 159 seats in the 225-member parliament in a general election last week.