Balance of payments: APRIL 2004
21/06/2004 - Press Releases
Current account balance
In April 2004, the current account deficit increased
year-on-year. Underlying this increase were the widening of the non-oil trade
deficit, the narrowing of the transfers surplus and the rise in the income
account deficit. By contrast, the services surplus grew.
Specifically, the widening of the trade deficit is accounted
for by an increase in the non-oil import bill, which more than offset the rise
in non-oil export receipts and the fall in the net oil import bill. The services
surplus improved considerably as a result of a rise in net transport (mainly
shipping) receipts. The increase in the income account deficit stemmed from
higher net interest, dividend and profit payments. Finally, the narrowing of the
transfers surplus in April mainly reflects a decrease in net EU transfers to
general government.
In January- April 2004, the current account deficit
narrowed considerably (by €972 million) over the same period in 2003 and
reached €3,357 million. This development reflects mainly a big rise in the
services surplus and secondarily a considerable rise in the transfers surplus,
which together more than offset the widening of the trade deficit.
Specifically, the trade deficit grew by €514 million
relative to the same period in 2003. This reflects a €1,203 million (or 13.4%)
increase in the non-oil import bill, which more than offset both a €391
million (or 12.6%) rise in non-oil export receipts and a €297 million decrease
in the net oil import bill. The services surplus grew by €1,020 million owing
to a big rise (of €959 million, or 65.1%) in net transport (mainly shipping)
receipts and, to a much lesser extent, a drop in net payments for ''other
services''. Net travel receipts did not change considerably, because a
€120 million (or 15.4%) rise in gross receipts (i.e. travel expenditure in
Greece by non-residents) was offset by a €132 million (or 27.2%) increase in
gross payments (i.e. travel expenditure abroad by residents of Greece). The
income account deficit also remained virtually unchanged. Finally, the growth of
the transfers surplus by €470 million in January-April 2004 is accounted for
by a €478 million increase in net EU transfers to general government.
Financial account balance
In April 2004, a small net outflow was observed under
direct investment. Under portfolio investment, a net inflow of €4,878 million
mainly reflects non-residents' purchases of Greek government bonds. Finally, as
regards "other investment", a net outflow of €3,571 million largely
reflects an increase in residents' (credit institutions') deposits and repos
abroad, as well as a decrease in non-residents' deposits and repos in Greece.
In January-April 2004, a net inflow of €486 million
was observed under direct investment, which mainly reflects inflows of funds in
January (because of the procedure of acquisition of PANAFON S.A. by VODAFONE)
and in March (because of the acquisition of the General Bank by Societe Generale),
as pointed out in previous press releases. Over the same period, a substantial
net inflow of €8,717 million was recorded under portfolio investment, which
mainly reflects non-residents' purchases of Greek government bonds. Finally, a
net outflow of €6,631 million under ''other investment'' is largely connected
with residents' (mainly credit institutions') sizeable outflows to deposits and
repos abroad and, to a lesser extent, outflows for the repayment of loans
granted by non-residents.
At end-April 2004, Greece's reserve assets came to
€3.5 billion. (It should be recalled that since the first months of 2003 the
Bank of Greece has started to diversify its portfolio, by reducing its non-euro
area currency holdings, which are included in reserve assets, and by increasing
its higher-yield or euro - denominated assets - mainly bonds issued by euro area
Member States, which are not included in reserve assets. Given that there is
less need to maintain high foreign currency reserves, by the above
diversification the Bank of Greece improved the return on its investments. It
has been noted repeatedly that, since Greece joined the euro area in January
2001, reserve assets, as defined by the European Central Bank, include only
monetary gold, the "reserve position" with the IMF, "Special
Drawing Rights", and Bank of Greece claims in foreign currency on residents
of non-euro area countries. Conversely, reserve assets do not include claims in
euro on residents of non-euro area countries, claims in foreign currency and in
euro on residents of euro area countries, and the Bank of Greece participation
in the capital and the reserve assets of the ECB.)
Note: Balance of payments data for May 2004 will be
released on 23 July 2004.