Deutsche Bank Economic Note (New Zealand) NZ:
Current Account Preview - June Quarter 1999
Key Points
Release date:::::::::::::::::::::23 September, 10.45am (NZT)
DB forecast:::::::::::::::::::::Current account (ex migrant transfers) :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ($NZ): -$2.1bn
qtr.; -$6.7bn ann.
Forecast risk::::::::::::::::: Balanced risk assessment
Market expectations (median): Quarterly current account balance ($NZ): ::::::::::::::::::::::::-$2.0bn qtr.; Range:
-$1.5bn$2.2bn
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Annual current account balance ($NZ): :::::::::::::::::::::::::-$6.6bn ann.; Range:
-$6.1bn/-$6.7bn
Previous release (Mar qtr): Quarterly current account balance ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::($NZ): -$0.9bn qtr.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Annual current account balance ($NZ): :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::-$6.5bn ann.
:::: Current Account (yr ended):::: Jun98::::Sep98::::Dec98::::Mar99 Jun99
Merchandise Exports ::::::::21,706 22,167::::22,566 22,616 22,770
Merchandise Imports ::::::::20,165 20,533::::21,009 21,363 21,881
Trade Balance ::::::::::::::::1,541::::1,634:::: 1,557 1,253:::: 889
Services Exports ::::::::6,666::::6,835:::: 7,035 7,540::::7,682
Services Imports ::::::::8,083::::8,410:::: 8,566 8,791::::8,867
Services Balance :::: -1,418 -1,575:::: -1,543 -1,252 -1,186
Total Investment Credits 404:::: 19::::::::-27::::-193:::: -50
Total Investment Debits:::::::: 7,495::::7,159:::: 6,728 6,742 7,000
Investment Income Balance:::: -7,091 -7,140:::: -6,755 -6,935 -7,050
Transfer Balance:::::::::::::::: 704:::: 642::::::::768:::: 557:::: 654
Current Account Balance::::::::-6,264 -6,439:::: -5,973 -6,377 -6,693
Balance (ex migrant transfers) -6,424 -6,574:::: -6,120 -6,482 -6,749 % of nominal GDP:::::::::::: -6.5:::: -6.5::::
-6.1::::-6.5:::: -6.7
Comment
We expect the newly formatted balance of payments data - under the new IMF methodology these data exclude the effect of
migrant transfers - to show the annual deficit as a percentage of GDP widening from 6.5% to 6.7% of GDP over the June
quarter. While we project some improvement in the annual services balances, this is expected to be more than offset by a
deterioration in the annual investment balance and merchandise trade position.
Looking ahead, despite the outlook for exports and the terms of trade remaining positive, the on-going strength of
import growth is likely to constrain the medium-term improvement in the trade balance. In addition, most of this
improvement is expected to be offset by a worsening investment income deficit, reflecting a recovery in company
earnings, rising world interest rates, as well as the funding costs related to continued high deficits.
With the deficit expected to widen to around 7.5% of GDP - largely due to the importation of a naval frigate - we expect
the subsequent reduction in the deficit to stall above 6% of GDP. As such, we expect the external imbalance will remain
NZ's key structural problem.
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ENDS