The total value of outstanding bank loans in Slovakia edged up by 0.6% y/y to EUR 41.66bn as of end-August 2013, following a 0.03% annual growth in July, data by the central bank showed. Commercial banks’ corporate loan book narrowed by 1.4% y/y as of end-August, softening from a 3.4% y/y decline in the previous month. The yearly growth in lending to households decelerated slightly to 9.4% from 9.6% in July.
On a monthly basis, the total value of outstanding bank loans fell 0.4% in July, following the same 0.4% decline in July.
In August alone, the Slovak banks extended a total of EUR 1.42bn in new loans, lower than EUR 1.44bn in July and EUR 1.66bn in August 2012.
IntelliNews comment: The lending activity in Slovakia's banking sector has weakened since the second half of last year given the weak consumer sentiment, deteriorating domestic economic outlook and mounting risks in the external environment. The outstanding amount of corporate loans has been falling mainly due to the tightening of credit standards, but also due to the growing reluctance of companies to invest given the uncertain economic outlook.
We expect the lending market to be sluggish this year as corporate credit growth is set to hold back in line with the continuous fall in private investments. Retail lending looks resilient despite the economic slowdown and the weak consumer sentiment. It may be negatively affected by the high unemployment, but is supported by increasing real wages, relatively low real estate prices and the low interest rate environment. The growth potential for consumer lending is high given the fact that Slovakia has the lowest level of indebtedness in the eurozone with the ratio of household debt to gross disposable income standing at 43%. On the other hand, the lending market is pressured by new, stricter bank regulations and increased risks from default in line with the economic slowdown.
Loans granted, outstanding amounts, EUR mn | Aug-13 | Jul-13 | Aug-12 | y/y change | m/m change |
Loans - total | 41,660.2 | 41,839.2 | 41,399.1 | 0.6% | -0.4% |
Loans to non-financial corporations | 15,606.6 | 15,598.7 | 15,828.2 | -1.4% | 0.1% |
Loans to households | 19,869.6 | 19,728.8 | 18,155.1 | 9.4% | 0.7% |
Loans for house purchase | 17,606.2 | 17,494.7 | 16,177.2 | 8.8% | 0.6% |
Consumer loans | 2,687.8 | 2,661.1 | 2,399.5 | 12.0% | 1.0% |
New Loans, EUR mn | |||||
New Loans - total | 1,420.7 | 1,438.3 | 1,660.8 | -14.5% | -1.2% |
--operating loans | 428.8 | 512.3 | 790.2 | -45.7% | -16.3% |
--investment loans | 208.6 | 119.8 | 224.0 | -6.9% | 74.1% |
--consumer loans | 124.6 | 128.5 | 121.7 | 2.4% | -3.1% |
--loans for house purchases | 427.9 | 492.3 | 352.1 | 21.5% | -13.1% |
----mortgages | 67.7 | 80.6 | 61.9 | 9.4% | -16.1% |
----building loans | 1.6 | 2.3 | 2.0 | -22.8% | -30.9% |
----intermediate loans | 34.9 | 44.6 | 46.1 | -24.3% | -21.8% |
----other loans for house purchases | 323.8 | 364.8 | 242.2 | 33.7% | -11.2% |
--other loans | 230.7 | 185.3 | 172.8 | 33.6% | 24.5% |
Source: National Bank of Slovakia |
The Polish grain market has been thrown into disarray by cheap Ukrainian grain that sent prices plummeting in April, causing Warsaw to impose a five-month ban, backed up by the European Commission. ... more
Metallurgical company OFZ plans to transfer part of its production from Slovakia to Uzbekistan, The Slovak Spectator has reported. The ferroalloy production company from Oravsky Podzamok has ... more
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union, and ILX Management, an emerging market asset manager, have joined forces to enhance private-sector finance in Emerging ... more