Saudi Arabia’s economy accelerated in the first quarter of 2015 showing the world’s top oil exporter can cope with low energy prices but growth may slow as the government faces pressure to rein in spending.
Gross domestic product adjusted for inflation grew 2.4 percent from a year earlier in the first quarter against a revised 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 the state statistics department said.
The figures indicated Saudi Arabia had offset the impact of oil’s 50 percent plunge since mid-2014 with a combination of heavy state spending and a strong private sector.
‘Today’s data add to the evidence that Saudi Arabia’s economy has weathered the storm created by lower oil prices relatively well so far’ wrote Jason Tuvey Middle East economist at London-based Capital Economics.
‘There are no signs that the economy is collapsing as some had feared.’
The oil sector which accounts for about 40 percent of the economy grew 1.8 percent in the first quarter as Saudi Arabia ramped up production to gain global market share. It had shrunk 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter.
The private sector expanded 3.3 percent slowing from 4.7 percent but staying robust as the retail and construction industries boomed.
Monica Malik chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank said other recent data and a bullish mood in the private sector suggested first-quarter growth might well be revised higher.
Nevertheless the Kingdom may find it harder to sustain growth in coming quarters if oil prices stay below 70 a barrel.
Cheap oil has created a state budget deficit which the International Monetary Fund projects at 20 percent of GDP this year equivalent to roughly 150 billion.
So far the government has financed its spending including lavish handouts such as a two-month bonus payment for state employees by drawing down foreign reserves at the central bank which acts as a sovereign wealth fund.
This cannot continue indefinitely the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency’s net foreign assets have dropped 65 billion since August to 672 billion in May. The government may issue bonds but economists also expect it to become more cautious about spending.
Malik predicted the government would ‘rationalize’ spending next year continuing core economic development projects but trying to ease the burden by attracting private funding.
‘Next year will probably see weaker growth’ Malik said. ‘We’re unlikely to have the same growth in current government spending as this year.’
Tuvey predicted GDP growth would slow to around 1.5 percent late this year and early next.
There are already some signs of spending cutbacks; Saudi Aramco has curtailed some projects while a plan to build 11 soccer stadiums around the country has largely been shelved sources told Reuters last month.
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