TRIPOLI: The over-50 percent decline in world oil prices from $115 a barrel in June 2014 to less than $60 today will have significant consequences for the economies of the Middle East, according to the World Bank.
Its latest MENA Quarterly Economic Brief says that the oil-exporting countries of the GCC are in a much better position due to their ample reserves, but they too could endure over a $215 billion loss in oil revenues, more than 14 percent of their combined GDP.
“The oil shock could threaten the ability of some of the oil exporters to meet domestic spending commitments,” said Lili Mottaghi, World Bank MENA economist and the author of the report.
“Their options include drawing down reserves, accumulating debt, and cutting spending on fuel subsidies and public-sector salaries.”
The report said that oil importers that are expected to gain due to the price slump include Jordan, Tunisia, Lebanon and Egypt.
The trade balances for these countries could improve by up to 2 percent of GDP. The oil exporters will likely run larger fiscal and current account deficits or their surpluses will shrink substantially.
“Oil importers will benefit from lower import and fuel subsidy bills, while exporters — some of whom depend on oil for 80 percent of their income — will lose export and fiscal revenues,” said Shanta Devarajan, World Bank chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa region.
The report focuses on the implications of low oil prices for eight developing countries (Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Libya) and the economies of the GCC, which play a major role in providing funds in the form of aid, investment, tourism revenues and remittances to the rest of the countries of the region.
