Public Information Notice No. 12/97

Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Concludes the 2012 Article IV Consultation with Saudi Arabia

August 7, 2012

On July 2, 2012, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Saudi Arabia.¹

Background

Saudi Arabia provided important support to the global economy in 2011 by raising oil production to help stabilize global oil markets. The commitment to provide $15 billion in additional resources for the IMF has also contributed to global stability. Adverse spillovers from unrest in the region and the euro area crisis have been limited so far. Higher oil revenues have been used to accelerate domestic developmental objectives as well as to support other economies in the region and beyond.

The pace of economic expansion accelerated in 2011. Overall real GDP growth reached 7.1 percent, and the non-oil economy grew by 8 percent—the highest since 1981. Despite increased economic activity, inflation stabilized at 5 percent as food inflation subsided and imports of capital goods and labor helped prevent bottlenecks from emerging.

New initiatives to address pressing social issues such as unemployment, availability of affordable housing, and SME financing, translated into an increase in real government spending of 20 percent. Nevertheless, despite increased spending and strong import growth, fiscal and external surpluses strengthened further in 2011 as oil revenues rose. Monetary aggregates grew strongly in 2011 and credit growth reached double digits as the economic expansion translated into increased demand for credit. Consistent with the peg to the U.S. dollar, monetary policy remained accommodative and policy rates remained unchanged. The banking system remained highly capitalized and liquid with improved profitability.

Executive Board Assessment

Executive Directors welcomed the authorities’ efforts to stabilize oil markets and noted the positive spillover to the region from Saudi Arabia’s higher growth, public spending, and expanded financial assistance. Higher oil revenues have strengthened fiscal and external balances and have boosted social spending and savings for future generations. The near-term economic outlook is broadly favorable, although geopolitical risks and oil prices remain sources of volatility.

Directors stressed the need to forestall any inflation pressures engendered by robust growth through a proactive use of liquidity and macroprudential policy tools. They also noted that, while the government has built significant policy buffers, fiscal spending is above the level consistent with an intergenerationally equitable drawdown of oil wealth. Accordingly, they highlighted the importance of preserving flexibility in entitlements, ensuring efficiency in spending, and broadening the tax base.

Directors welcomed the authorities’ efforts to strengthen budget institutions and further delink fiscal spending from oil price developments. They encouraged the authorities to continue to improve the budgetary process, including by carefully screening supplementary budgetary expenditures, establishing a macro-fiscal unit, and anchoring spending decisions in a multi-year framework.

Directors noted the recent initiatives to increase employment of Saudi nationals in the private sector and the complementary supply-side efforts to boost their skills. Adjusting domestic energy prices would enhance the efficiency of resource use and could also have beneficial employment effects, while facilitating economic diversification.

Directors agreed that the fixed exchange rate continues to serve Saudi Arabia well. Since the peg limits the scope for monetary policy conduct, the use of macroprudential and liquidity management tools remains key to effective policymaking.

Directors commended the authorities’ efforts to strengthen financial supervision and risk management, as well as their progress toward adopting Basel III standards. They encouraged continued implementation of the FSAP Update recommendations and welcomed improvements in the AML/CFT regime. Directors also welcomed progress made in strengthening the statistical system, but called for further measures to improve data quality, availability, and timeliness.