Forex auction allotments top US$30m

Foreign currency allotments leapt almost 50 percent in yesterday’s auction to more than US$31,6 million, smashing spectacularly a record set just a week ago, and with around two thirds of those allotments going on raw materials, machinery and equipment.

It is clear the productive sectors are rapidly climbing out of the lockdown-induced economic standstill.

Even with bids and allotments topping US$30 million, and all valid bids were accepted, the Zimbabwe dollar still managed to firm a tiny quarter percent, with the exchange rate moving down from $80,71:US$1 last week to $81,4965:US$1 yesterday, the fourth small consecutive firming of the local currency.

Both the Government and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) have been stressing recently that foreign currency inflows are adequate to sustain the auctions, with Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube noting that export earnings had unexpectedly risen 30 percent.

The last three weeks have seen valid bids and allotments hitting new records each week with just over US$19 million allotted two weeks ago, more than US$21 million last week and now the giant leap to more than US$32 million.

Yet the supplies of US dollars released by the Reserve Bank into the auctions has matched the rise in bids, and that has given the bidders enough confidence to adjust bids slightly to allow the two percent firming of the local currency in the last five auctions.

RBZ is still keeping control on what bidders can spend their currency on. All bids have to be for goods and services on the import priority list, with 70 percent of bids for the main auction and 80 percent in the SMEs auction being for category 1 items, what Zimbabwe must have, and the balance for category 2, what Zimbabwe can usefully use.

While 266 bids were accepted on the main auction and 95 on the SMEs auction, the Reserve Bank was listing bids for non-priority goods and services as the main reason to reject 35 main bids and 22 SMEs bids, although failures to sort out documentation for previous exports and imports took their now small toll.

Importers of luxury items and some consumer goods still have to use free funds to pay their bills, but RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya has noted that more than 87 percent of imports are now paid out of auction funds.

In the 14 auctions since the system started on June 23 more than US$240 million has been allotted with a quarter of that total in the last three weeks.

The foreign currency auction system has worked to entrench price stability in the market with a growing list of items, although still a short list, falling in price.

“Retailers and wholesalers have responded quite positively to the forex auction system as confirmed by the stability being enjoyed on pricing across key basic commodities,” said Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Mr Denford Mutashu.

“It is criminal for any business to access forex from the auction system and still continue to price using black market rates. The foreign currency on the auction system is meant to stabilise the economy and improving consumer access to cheaper and affordable basic commodities.”

The highest bidder on the main auction offered $86,7, while the lowest accepted bid was $78. On the SMEs auction the highest offered was $86, while the lowest accepted bid was also 78.

The auction saw big corporations being allocated US$30,4 million, while smaller businesses received a total of US$1,22 million.

Foreign currency availability on the formal market and, resultantly, allocations in recent weeks have been buoyed by the 20 percent foreign currency surrender policy that the RBZ introduced in August’s Monetary Policy Statement for all those who accept foreign currency for payment of local bills, putting retailers and many professionals into the same category as the most favoured exporters. Surrendered currency is bought at auction rates by the RBZ.

The growing number of bidders is indicative of increasing confidence in the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s forex auction system as well as the rebound in the economy as lockdown restrictions are eased.

As per norm, the raw materials segment accounted for the bulk of the allotments with US$13,56 million on the main auction and US$367 244 on the SME board.

Machinery and equipment came in second with US$5,72 million on the main and US$210 272 on the SME, and consumables, generally industrial consumables like spares and tyres, in third place on the main auction US$2,73 million and US$228 453 on the SMEs auction.

Observers say the foreign currency auction system has been buttressed by broader monetary and fiscal initiatives being implemented by the authorities.

Economist Mr Persistence Gwanyanya said the tight leash on money supply had kept demand for the local unit at significant levels.

“Demand for the Zimbabwe dollar is crucial for it to succeed, and the money authorities have made sure that the demand is there by controlling money supply,” he said.

A local industrialist appeared to confirm the trend in a September 17 tweet: “Times change and experiences may differ though.

“I never thought as operators we would be hunting, cutting deals and discounting to get local currency. If someone told the public they could access US dollar at auction rates at a local post office or bank would the same happen?”–herald