Monday, July 13,
2020 / 10:50AM / PFI Capital Limited/Header Image Credit: Current School News
On Friday 3 June, it was reported that the CBN
asked bidders in the SMIS window to increase their bidding price to N380/$ and it would not accept anything
below it. On Tuesday 7th July, the CBN official rate was quoted at N381/$ at the FMDQ while the I&E FX
window closed at N386.50/$ and the SMIS
window closed at N380.69/$, indicating
that the CBN has finally unified the official rate with the NAFEX rate. This
also reflects devaluation of the Naira by 5.54% when compared with the previous
official rate of N361/$. We recall our
previous report on Crude oil and the Naira on 10th March
where we explained that the CBN was likely to devalue the currency in 2020,
while comparing the 2016 economic situation with the situation now. We also
recall our follow up report titled "Is Another Adjustment to
the Naira on the Way?" which we wrote on 12th May, explaining that we
expected further devaluation of the currency away from the N361/$ majorly due to the adjustment on the forward rates. For now,
we therefore expect no further devaluation (provided that the CBN provides the
required liquidity needed at the market) as the gap between the two major
windows (official and I&E) has been significantly narrowed. This
unification rate is however less than our fair value estimate of N428.43/$ by -11.07%.
Source: CBN, PFI Capital
Research
One major implication of the unification is that
the naira has been weakened and as such, the rate of exchange is now higher
when compared to the previous rates. This tends to increase the prices of
imported goods and services in the country. Nigerian citizens will therefore
see increase in price of finished products whose raw materials are imported.
The increase becomes aggravated for goods whose demand is relatively inelastic
as income level is already low and costs as borne by the final consumers of
these goods and services. On the aggregate level, this will translate to
increase in the rate of inflation. So far in 2020, inflation rate has averaged 12.27%
while it has grown from 12.13% in January to 12.40% in May.
Another implication of this new development is
that firms holding dollar denominated debts will face increased debt repayments
as the real value to be repaid will be higher when compared to before. This
tends to raise their cost of production, and as such reduce their level of
activities. We further note the report in the media that the Manufacturers
Association of Nigeria (MAN) has launched an appeal with the CBN to exempt manufacturers
who have outstanding debt to be paid to foreign suppliers of raw materials from
Q2'19 till date, from the unified exchange rate. This is because if they are
not exempted from the unified rate, it means the value of their debt would be
increase.
For the government, the unification which is also
devaluation is a boost in revenue as dollars will now be exchanged at higher
naira rates. As such, we expect more inflows to come in for the government in
form of higher revenue, which will also translate to increased Federal
allocation to the three tiers of government on the basis of oil price hovering
at the current range of $38/barrel and $43/barrel.
In terms of debt for the government, the unification
of the exchange rates means that the government will now have to pay more to
refinance its foreign debt obligations. In Q1'20, 99.22% of the FGN revenue was
used in debt servicing and total external debt stock outstanding stood at N9.99 trillion during the same period
(c.35% of total public debt portfolio).
Source: CBN, PFI Capital
Research
In summary, while we view the unification to be
positive on the revenue side, it tends to be negative on the debt and external
sector activities. We however can only hope it will make export of goods and
services to be competitive so as to reduce the level of trade deficit in the
longrun.
Previous Report from PFI Capital
Limited
1. A More
than Expected Slowdown in Global Growth - PFI Capital
2. Nigeria's
Double-Whammy: Inflation and Unemployment - PFI Capital
3. Performance
Review of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan - PFI Capital
4. Implications
of Nigeria's Consumption Expenditure Pattern - PFI Capital Limited
Related News
1. Nigeria
Agrees to Pursue Exchange Rate Unification
2. Gross
Official Reserves Declined by US$400m in June 2020 to US36.20bn
3. A
Step Towards FX Rate Unification; FX Bids New Floor Now N380
4. Nigeria's
Naira Slides on Official Market on Plan to Align Exchange Rates
5. FMDQ
Exchange Set to Engage Market Stakeholders on Combating Currency Exchange
Volatility
6. Nigeria's
Gross Official Reserves Recovered By US$3.07bn in May 2020 to US$36.60bn
7. Manufacturing:
FX Shortage Starting to Bite
8. Nigeria
Foreign Exchange - Naira: The Price of Nigeria's Oil Fortune
9. Gross
Official Reserves Declined By US$1.64bn In April 2020 to US$33.52bn
10. Forex
Repatriation: Emefiele Assures Investors of Investments Security
11. Nigeria's
Five-Year Naira Futures Slide Past 550 After CBN Weakens ContractAnchoria
Fixed Income Monitor: CBN Slashes MPR to 12.50% While It Retains Other
Parameters
12. CBN
Revises Timelines for Dispense Errors, Refund Complaints
13. CBN
Communique No. 130 of the MPC Meeting - May 28, 2020
14. CBN
MPC Reduces MPR to 12.5%; Retains Other Parameters Constant