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Kuwait''s 8-month budget surplus jumps to KD14.7bln - report

KUWAIT, Jan 19 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's budget surplus for the first eight months (April 2012 - November 2012) of fiscal year (FY) 2012/2013 reached KD14.7bln (USD52bln), exceeding the KD11.6bln surplus recorded at the end of the same period of FY 2011/2012, a specialized economic report showed Saturday. The report, by Kuwait Finance House Research, was based on data from the Central Bank of Kuwait It added that the state revenues stood at KD21.6bln at end of November 2012, far exceeding the budgeted amount of KD9.3bln.
"Oil revenue continues to make up almost all of the government's income, accounting for nearly 95.0 percent of the total revenue. Kuwait traditionally underestimates oil prices and set it at just USD65 pb in the FY 2012/2013 budget plan, resulting in a low revenue projection. Oil prices (Brent) averaged at USD111.9pb in 2012.Non-oil revenue surpassed the budgeted amount for the period by KD367.0mln, reaching KD1.1bln," reads the report.
Moreover, the report noted that the expenditure fell short of the budget target for the period by KD7.2bln; reaching just KD6.9bln.
"Government spending was also slightly down on the same period of FY 2011/2012 when it reached KD7.1bln. Although wages expenditure grew by 24.7 percent y-o-y to KWD1.9bln, transfers declined by 23.0 percent while capital spending fell by 20.3 percent to just KD577.0mln. This compares with budgeted capital expenditure of KWD2.6bln for the full year," it said.
2013 Kuwait Fiscal Outlook Meanwhile, the KFH has revised up its FY2012/13 budget surplus forecast to 26.4 percent of GDP from 22.3 percent of GDP previously following lower current and capital spending as well as higher revenue collection.
"Kuwait posted record budget surplus of KD13.2bn (29.8 percent of GDP) in 2011/2012 (April 2011-March 2012) as revenue, driven by the oil sector, grew by 40.6 percent y-o-y and expenditure rose by 4.8 percent. We expect fiscal policy to remain expansionary in the medium term. The budget for FY 2012/2013 includes spending of KD21.2bln (USD75.0bln), a 9.3 percent increase on the previous budget. However, the government has a track record of failing to dispense its budget in full as political paralysis constrains its ability to spend, particularly on capital projects." It also projected a slight rise in the state capital expenditure in 2013.
"Capital expenditure growth will remain modest, but current expenditure will increase steadily as, assuming only limited success in replacing expatriate labor with nationals in the private sector, the government wage bill rises. In addition, faced with a rising incidence of strikes by public-sector workers, the government has been forced to raise their salaries. So long as oil prices remain high, such rises in current expenditure will not pose a threat to Kuwait's fiscal position." The KFH report highlighted the government decision in the current fiscal year to increase the proportion of revenue it allocates to the Reserve Fund for Future Generations (RFGG) from 10.0 percent to 25.0 percent.
"Although this revenue would normally have gone to the General Reserve Fund, which is also managed by the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) and covers all budgetary expenditure, it is more difficult to access from the RFGG. The move follows warnings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Kuwait could struggle to preserve its oil wealth for future generations if it does not exercise fiscal consolidation. Although the higher allocation to the RFGG addresses one aspect of such concerns, it will not be implemented in conjunction with a reduction in current expenditure." The KFH forecasted a budget surplus of 26.4 percent of GDP in FY 2012/2013.
"Nonetheless, oil will continue to account for the bulk of budget revenue, as no new income or sales taxes are expected. Income from the foreign investments of the KIA is expected to increase steadily, although low global interest rates and economic uncertainty in the US and, in particular, the Eurozone will constrain returns in the coming years. We expect a budget surplus of 26.4 percent of GDP in FY 2012/2013." It predicted a decline in the current-account surplus to reach 39.2 percent of GDP in 2013 from 44.1 percent of GDP in 2012 as oil export earnings decline.
"Oil export revenue will continue to account for the bulk (about 92.0 percent) of export earnings in 2013-2017. Slowly rising investment, by both the government and the private sector, should lead to steady growth in the import bill, "In contrast to the healthy trade surplus, the non-merchandise balance is forecast to remain in deficit in 2013-2017. Despite this, income credits are expected to grow steadily, chiefly reflecting earnings on the country's large and growing stock of foreign assets. Higher income inflows will more than offset an increase in income debits (owing to rising profit repatriation by foreign firms), boosting the income surplus to USD17.4bln in 2017. However, the current transfers account will continue to show a large and growing deficit as outward remittances from Kuwait's many foreign workers increase." The report concluded that in the medium term, Kuwait's fiscal policy is expected to remain expansionary.
"Current expenditure will rise as the government wage bill rises. However, high current expenditure will not pose a threat to Kuwait's fiscal position as long as oil prices remain high. We believe Kuwait will continue to record strong budget surplus in the coming years buoyed by the robust oil sector, "We expect a budget surplus of 26.4 percent of GDP in FY 2012/2013. Oil will continue to account for the bulk of budget revenue, as no new income or sales taxes are expected in the near terms. Higher oil revenue encourages a ramping up of current spending, which in turn will spur growth in domestic consumption," reads the report. (end) mka.tb.ibi KUNA 191710 Jan 13NNNN