Nigeria’s external reserve has dropped to $45 billion the lowest since March 21, 2018, when it was $45.3 billion. This is according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria tracked weekly by Nairametrics.
Nigeria’s external reserve has nosedived since it hit a multi-year peak of about $47.8 billion at the end of June 2018, representing a decline of about $2.5 billion within a space of two months.
Why the drop
- Nigeria’s capital importation for the second quarter of 2018 was $5.51 billion, representing a 12.53% decline from the last quarter – Q1 2018.
- Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) which slumped from $4.56 billion in the first quarter of 2018 to $4.11 billion in the second quarter was the major reason for the fall in Nigeria’s capital inflow.
- Nigeria’s relies on capital importation to drive external reserves.
- Foreign investors are also scaling back on investing in emerging markets as fear of a contagion grips foreign investors. The exit of foreign investor flows is connected to ani free trade rhetorics of US President, Donald Trump and the increase in US Fed rates.
- These outflows have put pressure on the CBN to defend the naira, allowing for more intervention in the Investor Exporter window.
- Nigeria’s external reserve was earlier in the year boosted by foreign denominated bonds. With no new issuance, it appears reliance on crude oil sales alone is not enough to cover for dollar demand.
Possible implication
- Nigeria’s external reserve is critical to defending the recent exchange rate stability of N360/$1.
- Considering the currency depreciation against the dollar by most emerging market currencies like Ghana and South Africa, it is likely that the CBN may have to keep depleting the reserves to avoid a depreciation of the naira.
- However, as the external reserves continue to approach $40 billion there is risk that the CBN may allow the dollar to depreciate further at the interbank.
- The election campaign season is also close so there might be further pressure o the black market that could further depreciate the naira further against the dollar.
- It is probably time to consider buying the dollars again.