Tough funding conditions for GCC corporates: the hidden effect of lower oil prices

Tighter liquidity conditions in the GCC region since mid-2014…

Oil prices declined by around 75% between mid-2014 and January 2016, with Brent crude prices falling as low as $28 a barrel. Since then, prices have risen back up by nearly 85%, to around $50 a barrel. Nevertheless, persistently low prices are continuing to weigh on liquidity conditions across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Firstly, these countries are still heavily dependent on oil, despite efforts made towards greater economic diversification. Between 2011 and 2014, hydrocarbon revenues accounted for 70% of exports and over 80% of total fiscal revenues, on average1. Secondly, low energy prices have been dragging down governments’ fiscal revenues, which has in turn weighed on the results of corporates and the liquidity of the banking sector. As a result, both financial and business conditions have deteriorated since the beginning of the decline in oil prices. Real GDP growth across the region fell to 1.9% in 2016, down from an average of 4.9% between 2010 and 20152. Growth is expected to edge up marginally, to 2.1% in 2017, supported by the recovery in oil prices.

The slowdown in fiscal revenues and economic growth
has pushed governments in the GCC region to adopt austerity measures such as raising administrative fees, reducing (or even eliminating) some subsidies, cancelling low-priority projects and trying to contain salaries. Governments are continuing to examine measures to raise additional budgets through other taxes and fees (such as VAT, taxes on business profits and income tax). The region’s budgets for 2017 showed reductions in public spending which will lead to the postponement of some important projects. This will make cash flow management more difficult for companies and reduce the opportunities for banks to finance mega-projects (one of their main sources of profitability).