Net FDI inflows surge 142% in March

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday that net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows surged 142 percent in March as equity infusion more than doubled while withdrawals declined.

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said that net FDI inflows amounted to $167 million in March or $98 million lower than the $69 million inflows booked in the same month last year.

“All FDI components yielded positive balances during the month,” Tetangco stressed.

Data showed that equity placements jumped 113 percent to $64 million in March from $30 million in the same month last year while withdrawals slowed down by 47 percent to $18 million from $34 million.

The net inflow of other capital account consisting largely of intercompany borrowing between foreign direct investors and their subsidiaries or affiliates in the Philippines jumped 146.2 percent to $96 million in March from $39 million in the same period last year while reinvested earnings fell 26.5 percent to $25 million from $34 million.

In all, Tetangco said net FDI inflows retreated by 16.6 percent to $471 million in the first quarter of the year from $565 million in the same period last year due to the tensions in Middle East and North African (MENA) states, the debt crisis in Europe, and the disasters in Japan.

“Investors remained cautious on account of the uncertainties brought about by the ongoing sovereign debt problems in Europe, the political unrest in the MENA region as well as the disasters that struck Japan,” the BSP chief stressed.

Equity placements retreated by 7.6 percent to $121 million from January to March compared to $131 million in the same period last year while withdrawals plunged 53.5 percent to $40 million from $86 million.

Data showed that reinvested earnings plummeted 38.3 percent to $113 million from $183 million while other capital fell 17.8 percent to $277 million from $337 million.

FDI inflows retreated by 12.7 percent to $1.71 billion last year from $1.96 billion in 2009 as equity placements plunged 42.5 percent to $1.15 billion while equity withdrawals increased by 10.8 percent to $307 million.

The drop was attributed to the decline in equity capital investments in new and existing projects as investor sentiment was generally marked by cautiousness and uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt crisis in some parts of Europe, geopolitical tensions in Korea, asset price bubble and overheating concerns in fast growing emerging markets.

Likewise, the BSP explained that large-scale investments arising from the privatization of a local power corporation and the acquisition of shares of a local beverage manufacturing firm were recorded in 2009.

These included the investment made by China’s largest electricity provider State Grid Corp. and Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. in state-owned National Transmission Corp. (Transco) that bagged a $3.95 billion concession contract as well as the decision of Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings to acquire a stake in Manila-based San Miguel Brewery of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. worth P65.8 billion.

Monetary authorities are confident that FDIs would continue to pour into the Philippines to fund projects under the Aquino administration’s public private partnership (PPP) scheme. –Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine Star)