RUSSIAN MARKET RESILIENCY GET FURTHER PUSH WITH INCREASED GOVT EXPENDITURE
Russian economy is now just a tad below the level it was at the end of 2019 and has almost made back all the ground it lost in 2020 to the multiple shocks. The economy suffered surprisingly little damage during last year’s horrible sanctions. Which is doubly surprising as the 3% of GDP the government spent on stimulus measures was also one of the most frugal in the world.
Russian economy had returned to growth of 0.5% in March, but the contractions of 2.2% and 2.5% in January and February respectively were enough to ensure there was a contraction for the first quarter as a whole. The estimate appeared to be better than market expectations (-1.4% year on year and -1.2% y/y respectively), as Ministry of Economic Development estimates (-1.3% y/y).
Although there was no detailed breakdown, noted improved dynamics in wholesale trade turnover (+4.2% y/y vs. +0.9% y/y in 4Q20), manufacturing (+0.9% y/y in 1Q21 vs. +2.3% y/y in 4Q20 and +0.7% y/y in 2020) and electricity, gas and steam. At the same time, mining and quarrying posted a contraction of 7.3% y/y in 1Q21 (vs. -8.1% y/y in 4Q20), and retail trade turnover improved marginally from a contraction of 1.7% y/y in 4Q20 to a contraction of 1.6% y/y in 1Q21.The most notable improvement was seen in market services rendered to the population, the contraction of which eased from 12.7% y/y in 4Q20 to only 1.6% y/y in 1Q21.key economic indicators for March, both production and consumption indicators pointed to a strong recovery momentum when accounting for the low base, calendar days and precautionary demand, the economy is now just an inch below its pre-pandemic level (98.6% in 4Q19).”
Economic activity has clearly started to bounce back from March and is expected to gather momentum from here. Speculation around that there will be a growth spike in the second quarter of this year due to the base effects after business was brought to a standstill by last April’s countrywide strict lockdown and the collapse of the oil prices following the failure of the OPEC+ deal.
There are still several unknowns in the short term, as due to the reluctance of Russians to get vaccinated experts worry about a fresh wave of the pandemic breaking out in the late summer. But analysts hope the strength of the recovery will carry enough momentum to see growth continue in the second quarter. If the pace of 1Q21 is sustained (Barring limited effect from the non-working days in May), the economy could expand 8.3% y/y in 2Q21 and bring overall y/y growth to 3%, greater chance that the upside risks to 1Q21 SA quarter-on-quarter growth rates will materialize this year and keep the recovery momentum high, e.g. the very gradual recovery in outbound tourism will promote greater consumption at home.
