The Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Thailand) has reported a loss of 1.4 billion baht ($44.3 million) in the first half of this year after setting aside 5.4 billion baht as reserve for doubtful debts.
Exim Thailand president Phisit Sareewiwatthana said: “If the reserve were to be excluded, the bank would have recorded a profit of 1.1 billion baht in the first half of 2020.”
It is possible that the bank would increase the reserve in the second half of the year, depending on the export situation, he said.
“We estimate that by the fourth quarter, the situation would improve with around 70-80 per cent of customers being able to continue their businesses,” he said. “We also estimate annual operation revenue to contract, which is expected in the current economic situation.”
Exim Thailand’s non-performing loans (NPLs) in the first half of this year rose to 6.37 per cent from 4.6 per cent at the end of last year, up by roughly 30 per cent.
Outstanding loans were 126 billion baht, up 18 per cent from the same period last year which had recorded at 107 billion baht.
“It is notable that the export insurance rate has jumped 70 per cent, from 37 billion baht in the same period last year to 97 billion baht,” added Phisit. “The reason is, exporters are uncertain about importers’ paying ability so they are opting to get an insurance.”
He said the bank has provided three packages to its customers, especially those rejected by commercial banks.
First was an export insurance package for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have annual income less than 100 million baht or fewer than 50 employees, starting at only 100,000 baht with maximum coverage of two million baht.
Second was a loan package for medium-sized entrepreneurs at maximum 80 million baht per customer and interest rate of 3.75 per cent annually.
Third was the Thai Keng Exim package, which aims to support rotating fund at three million baht per customer for entrepreneurs in competitive industries such as industrial agriculture, biotechnology, food processing and cosmetics.
The loan will have a fixed interest rate of 4.75 per cent annually, and will be reduced to four per cent in case the entrepreneurs export to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam.
THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
