Bahrain’s economy to grow 3% this year on higher oil prices and post-Covid rebound

Bahrain’s economy is expected to grow by 3 per cent this year on the back of higher oil prices and output and a rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the National Bank of Kuwait.

Fiscal balance in the Gulf country, which posted a 2.2 growth in its gross domestic product last year – is projected to swing back into a surplus this year, NBK said in its macroeconomic outlook.

The estimated recovery is well ahead of Manama’s pandemic-delayed target of achieving a balance by 2024.

While economic output is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels, high debt levels remain a concern. Any retreat in oil prices or an incomplete implementation of the country’s fiscal balance programme goals are risks for growth, the bank said.

Although Bahrain is one of the Gulf region’s most diversified economies, it could benefit even more than others from higher oil revenues given its particular financial vulnerabilities that the reform programme aims to address, NBK said.

“Indeed, the government could record its first fiscal surplus in 14 years in 2022, beating its [pandemic-delayed] target of balancing the budget by 2024,” the lender said.

Things are looking up for Bahrain’s economy as it implements a major FBP, which, NBK says, will drive the country’s growth outlook in the medium term.

Last month, Moody’s Investors Service revised its outlook for Bahrain to “stable” from “negative” as the country’s economy benefits from high oil prices and the government continues its fiscal reforms.

The agency also affirmed the country’s B2 long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings. The change in outlook “reflects an easing of downside risks to Bahrain’s ratings”, it said.

Manama’s revised targets under the programme were based on a projected oil price of $60 per barrel between 2022 and 2024, which now looks “too pessimistic”, according to NBK.

“We see the budget swinging from a deficit of 3.7 per cent of GDP in 2021 to a small surplus this year and next. As well as the jump in oil revenues, nonoil receipts will be boosted to around 6.2 per cent of GDP in 2022-2023 by the impact of higher VAT and enhanced revenue collection,” it said.

“The government also looks set to stick with FBP initiatives of rationalising spending, including reducing manpower and streamlining subsidies, reinforcing its commitment to reform. It is targeting spending of 20 per cent of GDP by 2024, down from a recent peak of 28.7 per cent in 2020.”

NBK forecasts Bahrain’s non-oil growth at 3 per cent this year – slightly better than last year – in part due to lifting of Covid-related restrictions through the first quarter.

The crucial financial sector – which comprises 20 per cent of the country’s non-oil GDP – would benefit from stronger activity and higher interest rates, which, in turn, should help offset the drag on activity from fiscal consolidation measures, NBK said.

The Central Bank of Bahrain – along with the banking regulators of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar – on May 5 increased its key policy interest rate on the one-week deposit facility by 50 basis points to 1.75 per cent from 1.25 per cent, following the Federal Reserve’s move to raise its key rate by half a percentage point, the US central bank’s most aggressive decision in 22 years.

Also raised were the overnight deposit rate to 1.5 per cent from 1 per cent, the four-week deposit rate to 2.5 per cent from 1.75 per cent and the lending rates to 3 per cent from 2.5 per cent.

“Higher interest rates could also worsen public sector debt dynamics. On the other side, higher oil prices or rapid and successful reform execution could improve non-oil growth and the government’s credit rating,” NBK said.

The central bank earlier this month also set new rules governing crowdfunding-based activities as Bahrain looks to open up more avenues of funding for smaller businesses and broaden the pool of liquidity.