MENA’s trade prospects get a boost from Asia and Africa

DUBAI, UAE –
Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 –
Atradius, a global trade insurance leader, has today released its
2023 Regional Economic Outlook report, which presents
growth forecasts for key markets in the Middle East and North Africa, including differentiated outlooks for oil-exporting and energy-importing countries, and detailed expectations around
trade activity and the impact of the
global energy transition.
“Oil price fluctuations meant the MENA region could not maintain the 5%+ growth rate in GDP seen in 2021 and 2022,” said Rupa Jagannathan, Managing Director, Middle East, Atradius. “However, while growth will be weak this year, a rebound is likely in 2024, fueled by investments and economic diversification, as well as stronger trade partnerships with Asian markets and other African economies.”
Here are the main takeaways from
Niels de Hoog, Senior Economist, Atradius. The full report is available to download
here.
Overall MENA macro-economic outlook

Following a strong performance in 2022, the MENA region will see growth weaken in 2023 in line with the overall global economic slowdown, as falling oil prices had an adverse effect on oil-exporting countries in the region.

Several supportive factors, including a likely stabilization in oil prices,
should drive a rebound from 2024 – although oil price swings and climate change present significant risks.

Oil exporting countries – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar – will experience a drop from 7.6% GDP growth in 2022 to
just 1.4% this year, but
growth will pick up thanks to
the development of diversified, non-oil sectors, and a recovery in oil prices.

Oil importing countries – Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia and Egypt – will grow more slowly than the oil exporters, as they struggle with
high inflation and interest rates, low government spending and the influence of
overall global economic weakness.

Liquidity will make a difference

Assuming oil prices remain elevated,
growth among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in areas other than oil will experience only a mild slowdown, with governments using petrodollars to support household consumption and investment projects.

Saudi Arabia and UAE, in particular, have recorded
impressive growth in real gross fixed investment, with a focus on balancing the funding of fossil fuels with
meeting sustainability targets and diversifying their economies.

Meanwhile, energy importing countries face a more subdued outlook as
inflationary pressures remain, worsened by currency depreciation and monetary policy missteps. Any
rise in the oil price could scupper the recovery process.

Robust trade with Asia to benefit

All MENA countries, especially those in the GCC,
will benefit from trade and strong relations with
key Asian markets, particularly China and India.

Apart from the energy trade,
GCC countries are performing well on non-fuel exports, mainly chemicals, manufactured goods and machinery, along with services, in line with
strategic decisions to diversify away from hydrocarbon trade.

Oil-importing countries’
main export partner is a slower-growing Europe, meaning it will benefit to a relatively lesser extent from trade.

Energy transition will influence trade strategies

With an
increased focus on sustainability, a number of MENA markets are turning to African countries for importing
critical metals, which serve as inputs for renewable energy technologies.
China remains a major supplier of solar panels and other technologies supporting the region’s energy transition.

The global energy transition will lead to a
rise in demand for natural gas as a transition fuel from places such as China and Europe, while
oil exports will see a gradual decline. To capitalise on the opportunity,
gas producers like Qatar are investing in expanding capacity.

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