A p r i l 1 7 , 2012 WEEKLY REPORT IT’S THE FDI, STUPID! Last week we analyzed the balance of payments in Colombia for 2011 as a whole, which shows that the current account (CA) deficit is fully funded by long-term foreign investment flows from abroad, mainly those corresponding to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Moreover, FDI from abroad alone exceeds the CA deficit, suggesting that it is the single most relevant capital flow behind the strength of the local currency. Nonetheless, we also pointed out that Colombian FDI abroad reached its highest level ever in 2011, which means that total net FDI (FDI in Colombia, net of Colombian FDI abroad) only finances half of the CA deficit. However, when looking at funds of capital flows that actually went through the local exchange rate market (supply and demand of foreign currency, which differs from balance of payments’ flows), it is clear that total net FDI was and will continue to be the main driver of currency appreciation. NOTE: This English version of the weekly report only includes the main editorial. The full Spanish version contains various financial markets’ sections (fixed income, money markets and rates, FX, stock markets, and external markets), economic calendar and forecasts (see Informe Semanal – Abril 16 de 2012). Economic Research Corficolombiana (+57-1) 3538787 www.corficolombiana.com Other reports (in Spanish): Tesoro de oportunidad Informe mensual de Renta Fija (Abril 13 de 2012) Baja corriente para un alto flujo Informe Semanal (Abril 9 de 2012) Progreso nublado Informe Semanal (Abril 2 de 2012) Todo con moderación Informe Semanal (Marzo 26 de 2012) Obstáculos en el Camino Informe Semanal (Marzo 20 de 2012) Mayor cautela Informe Semanal (Marzo 12 de 2012) Menos TES Informe mensual de Renta Fija (Marzo 9 de 2012) Con licencia para construir Informe Semanal (Marzo 5 de 2012) Monitor de Inflación – Febrero de 2012 (Febrero 28 de 2012) April 17, 2012 IT’S THE FDI, STUPID! Andrés Pardo Amézquita Last week we analyzed the balance of payments in Colombia for 2011 as a whole, which shows that the current account (CA) deficit is fully funded by long-term foreign investment flows from abroad, mainly those corresponding to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (see “Baja corriente para un alto flujo” in Informe Semanal – Abril 9 de 2012, in Spanish). Moreover, FDI from abroad alone exceeds the CA deficit, suggesting that it is the single most relevant capital flow behind the strength of the local currency. Nonetheless, we also pointed out that Colombian FDI abroad reached its highest level ever in 2011, which means that total net FDI (FDI in Colombia, net of Colombian FDI abroad) only finances half of the CA deficit. However, when looking at funds of capital flows that actually went through the local exchange rate market (supply and demand of foreign currency, which differs from balance of payments’ flows), it is clear that total net FDI was and will continue to be the main driver of currency appreciation. The CA deficit in 2011 was USD10 billion, more than financed by a capital account surplus of USD13.3 billion. This surplus is the result of USD27 billion of capital inflows and USD13.7 billion of capital outflows (Table 1). Among foreign capital inflows, the most significant was that of FDI in Colombia, which reached its highest level ever at USD13.2 billion. Similarly, the most relevant capital outflow was that of Colombian FDI abroad at USD8.3 billion, also at a record high. Table 1. Capital account in the balance of payments 2010-2011 (figures in USD bn) 2010 2011 19.9 27.0 FDI in Colombia from abroad 6.9 13.2 Foreign portfolio investment from abroad 3.3 8.2 External loans and credits 9.7 5.6 8.1 13.7 6.6 8.3 Capital inflows Capital outflows Colombian FDI abroad Other Colombian investments abroad (includes loans abroad) Total capital account 1.6 5.4 11.8 13.3 Source: BanRep Consequently, total net FDI flows, calculated as FDI in Colombia from abroad minus Colombian FDI abroad, were USD 4.9 billion in 2011, financing only half of the CA deficit for that year. Does this mean that total net FDI does not carry enough weight, among net foreign capital flows, to explain the strength of the Colombian peso? In order to answer this question it is necessary to look beyond the balance of payments, therefore we take a look at transactions of capital flows in the local exchange rate market. The main differences between exchange rate market and balance of payments transactions are the following: i) exchange rate market data only account for currency transactions in the local market, thus affecting the exchange rate level in the short term; and ii) balance of payments data also include transactions that are settled in bank accounts abroad (compensation accounts, as defined by Colombia’s Central Bank) and those that do not require flows of funds (for example, payments in kind or reinvestment of profits by corporations with FDI in Colombia), which do not necessarily affect the exchange rate in the short term. According to data of Exchange rate market transactions, net supply of foreign currency originated in capital flows in 2011 stood at USD15.6 billion (Table 2). In other words, among all foreign capital flows, the difference between sales and purchases of foreign currency in 2011 was USD15.6 billion (more supply than demand). From this amount, the sale of foreign currency corresponding to FDI in Colombia was USD15 billion, while the purchase of foreign currency required to make payments of Colombian FDI abroad only reached USD1.1 billion. As a result, net supply of foreign currency related to total net FDI (FDI in Colombia, net of Colombian FDI abroad) was USD14 billion. Therefore, total net FDI accounted for 89.7% of total net supply of foreign currency originated in capital flows during 2011, and was much higher than the USD11.7 billion of CA deficit reported in exchange rate market transactions. 2 April 17, 2012 Table 2. Net supply of foreign currency originated in capital flows 2010, 2011 and 2012 (figures in USD bn) 2010 2011 1T12 9.1 14.0 4.1 9.5 15.0 4.2 -0.4 -1.1 -0.1 2. Portfolio investment 1.5 1.7 0.7 3. Net private lending 0.7 3.8 0.9 4. Net public lending and others 4.1 -3.9 -2.6 15.3 15.6 3.1 1. Total net FDI (A+B) A. Net FDI in Colombia from abroad B. Colombian FDI abroad Total capital flows (1+2+3+4) Source: BanRep. Calculations by Corficolombiana Note: Negative flow represents net demand of foreign currency There is no doubt that total net FDI flows continue to have the most weight among those in the capital account, and they are responsible for the bulk of foreign currency supply in the local exchange rate market. This trend has continued throughout 2012 (Table 2): in 1Q12 net supply of foreign currency from total net FDI was USD4.1 billion, even surpassing the USD3.1 billion of net supply from all capital flows (other types of capital flows have generated net demand of foreign currency), while the CA deficit only reached USD2.3 billion. These dynamics suggest that, in terms of capital flows, FDI will continue to be the main driver of COP appreciation, backed by strong local economic fundamentals and high liquidity abroad. As a result, we reaffirm our exchange rate forecast for 2012 year-end, at 1750 COP/USD. Note: For a further explanation of the differences between exchange rate market and balance of payments transactions see “IED: Motor de la revaluación” in Informe Semanal – Abril 25 de 2011 (in Spanish). . 3 April 17, 2012 ECONOMIC RESEARCH CORFICOLOMBIANA Andrés Pardo Amézquita Head of Economic Research (+57-1) 3538787 Ext.6165 [email protected] Carmen Salcedo Saldaña Fixed Income Analyst (+57-1) 3538787 Ext. 6105 [email protected] Paula Andrea Cifuentes Henao Macroeconomics Analyst (+57-1) 3538787 Ext. 6139 [email protected] Luis Omar Herrera Prada Foreign Exchange Analyst (+57-1) 3538787 Ext. 6107 [email protected] Julio César Romero A. 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