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MAN Demands For Better Forex Management, AS CEO’s Confidence Index Declines To 55.0

 

The manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)  has said that it is crucially important for the Government to have a shift towards better exchange rate management, and moderate the rising energy cost via better management of refined petroleum products imported into the country.

According to MAN these among other measures would no doubt help to reduce the current high inflation, which is fast eating up the working capitals of businesses including manufacturing in the economy.

This call is coming on the heels of a report which indicated that the Manufacturers CEO’s Confidence Index (MCCI) of MAN  In the fourth quarter of 2022, declined to 55.0 points down from 55.4 points recorded in the third quarter of the year

The decline in the Aggregate Index Score underscored the persisting challenges and the waning confidence of manufacturers in the economy in the fourth quarter of 2022 over the recorded points in the preceding quarter.

The Manufacturers CEO’s Confidence Index (MCCI) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is a quarterly   research and advocacy publication of the Association, which measures changes in pulse of operators and trends in the manufacturing sector quarterly, in response to movements in the macro economy and Government policies using primary data generated from direct survey of over 400 Chief Executive Officers of MAN member-Companies

The AIS declined in the quarter under review due to the persisting increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), erosion in Naira value, difficulty in sourcing forex for productive use, high cost of energy, the issue of insecurity and the lingering Russian-Ukrainian war including the associated adversities.

Among the standard Diffusion Factors, Current Business Condition and  Business Condition for the next three months, scored above 50 benchmark while increasing in the quarter; Current Employment Condition (Rate of Employment) and Production level in the next three months scored above the 50 benchmark points though with a decline in the period respectively; Employment Condition for the next three months dipped below the benchmark points to 48.8 points which is also below 49.2 points obtained in the preceding quarter. Employment decision by manufacturers is so difficult due to the unpredictability and difficulty in macroeconomic movement.

”In summation, the fourth quarter of 2022 appeared to be more difficult  to manufacturers than the level of hardship in the preceding quarter due to persisting rise in CPI, high cost of energy, unabated erosion in Naira value and difficulty in sourcing forex including the harsh effect of Russian-Ukrainian war,” the report stated.

Analysis of examination of ten sectoral groups shows that Index Score of Pulp, Paper, Printing & Publishing (49.6 points) and Motor Vehicle & Miscellaneous Assembly (48.4 points)  fell below the 50 benchmark points.  The score indicates a gross loss of confidence in the economy by manufacturers operating in the two sectoral groups.

Particularly,   the motorcycle sub-group of the Motor Vehicle & Miscellaneous Assembly has been facing difficulty following the banning of motorcycles by various States Government in some metropolis.

Food, Beverage & Tobacco; Textile Apparel & Footwear; Wood & Wood Products; Chemical & Pharmaceutical;  Non-Metallic Products; Domestic/Industrial Plastic & Rubber; Electrical & Electronic; and Basic Metal, Iron & Steel groups all scored above 50 based points.  The score suggests that manufacturers operating in the groups have confidence in the macroeconomy.

”An observation of  analysis of the 14 industrial zones shows that  Index scores of  Rivers/Bayelsa (48.0 points) and Cross-Rivers/Akwa-Ibom (46.5 points) fell below the 50 base points. The scores indicates that manufacturers operating in the zones have lost confidence in the economy due to persisting harsh operating environment in the zones.

Imo/Abia, Kaduna, Ogun,   Apapa and Kwara/Kogi though have index scores above 50 benchmark points but declined  in the quarter  under review.

Edo/Delta, Oyo/Ondo/Ekiti/Osun, Kano, Ikeja, Anambra/Enugu and Bauchi/Benue/Plateau have index scores above the 50 base points with increase in the quarter under review.  The scores indicate continuous improvement of the confidence of manufacturers operating in the zones in the economy.

Index scores of Abuja zone increased to 50.7 points in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 43.5 points obtained in the preceding quarter.  The score indicates a significant improvement in the confidence of the manufacturers operating in the zone.

Apart from the general macroeconomic challenges that affect all the zones, it is important to examine and address State-specific challenges as they concerns the zones.

The report stated that apart from the general macroeconomic challenges that affect all the zones, it is important to examine and address State-specific challenges as they concerns the zones.

The fourth quarter of 2022 according to the report was adversely affected by an escalation in the Consumer Price Index  (CPI), continuous erosion in Naira value and difficulty in accessing forex,  high cost of energy, persisting insecurity and the consequences of lingering  Russian-Ukrainian war.

These issues among others the report stated are principally responsible for the difficult operating environment and its declining implication on manufacturing activities in the country during the quarter under review.

The index score of the current quarter though below that of the previous quarter indicates that manufacturers generally still have confidence in the economy.

Across Sectoral groups however, activities in the Pulp, Paper, Printing & Publishing with index score of 49.6 points and Motor Vehicle & Miscellaneous Assembly (48.4 points) are negatively affected by the harsh operating environment in the quarter under review as their index scores fell below the 50 base points.

Similarly, among industrial zones, activities in Rivers/Bayelsa (48.0 points) and Cross-Rivers/Akwa-Ibom (46.5 points) zones were depressed by high-cost of operating environment in the fourth quarter of 2022 as underlined by their index scores which fell below the benchmark points

The manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)  has said that it is crucially important for the Government to have a shift towards a better exchange rate management; and moderate the rising energy cost via better management of refined petroleum products imported into the country.

According to MAN these among other measures would no doubt help to reduce the current high inflation, which is fast eating-up the working capitals of businesses including manufacturing in the economy.

This call is coming on the heels of a report which indicated that the Manufacturers CEO’s Confidence Index (MCCI) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) In the fourth quarter of 2022, declined to 55.0 points down from 55.4 points recorded in the third quarter of the year

The decline in the Aggregate Index Score underscored the persisting challenges and the waning confidence of manufacturers in the economy in the fourth quarter of 2022 over the recorded points in the preceding quarter.

The Manufacturers CEO’s Confidence Index (MCCI) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is a quarterly   research and advocacy publication of the Association, which measures changes in pulse of operators and trends in the manufacturing sector quarterly, in response to movements in the macro economy and Government policies using primary data generated from direct survey of over 400 Chief Executive Officers of MAN member-Companies

The AIS declined in the quarter under review due to the persisting increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), erosion in Naira value, difficulty in sourcing forex for productive use, high cost of energy, the issue of insecurity and the lingering Russian-Ukrainian war including the associated adversities.

Among the standard Diffusion Factors, Current Business Condition and  Business Condition for the next three months, scored above 50 benchmark  while increasing in the quarter; Current Employment Condition (Rate of Employment) and Production level in the next three months  scored above the 50 benchmark points though  with a decline in the period respectively; Employment Condition for the next three months dipped below the benchmark points to 48.8 points which is also below 49.2 points obtained in the preceding quarter. Employment decision by manufacturers is so difficult due to the unpredictability and difficulty in macroeconomic movement.

”In summation, the fourth quarter of 2022 appeared to be more difficult  to manufacturers than the level of hardship in the preceding quarter due to persisting rise in CPI, high cost of energy, unabated erosion in Naira value and difficulty in sourcing forex including the harsh effect of Russian-Ukrainian war,”

the report stated.

Analysis of examination of ten sectoral groups shows that Index Score of Pulp, Paper, Printing & Publishing (49.6 points) and Motor Vehicle & Miscellaneous Assembly (48.4 points)  fell below the 50 benchmark points.  The score indicates a gross loss of confidence in the economy by manufacturers operating in the two sectoral groups.

Particularly,   the motorcycle sub-group of the Motor Vehicle & Miscellaneous Assembly has been facing difficulty following the banning of motorcycles by various States Government  in some metropolis.

Food, Beverage & Tobacco; Textile Apparel & Footwear; Wood & Wood Products; Chemical & Pharmaceutical;  Non-Metallic Products; Domestic/Industrial Plastic & Rubber; Electrical & Electronic; and Basic Metal, Iron & Steel groups all scored above 50 based  point.  The score suggests  that manufactures operating in the  groups have confident in the macroeconomy.

”An observation of  analysis  of the 14 industrial zones shows that  Index scores of  Rivers/Bayelsa (48.0 points) and Cross-Rivers/Akwa-Ibom (46.5 points) fell below the 50 base points. The scores indicates that manufacturers operating in the zones have lost confidence in the economy due to persisting harsh operating environment in the zones.

Imo/Abia, Kaduna, Ogun,   Apapa and Kwara/Kogi though  have index scores above 50 benchmark points but declined  in the quarter  under review.

Edo/Delta, Oyo/Ondo/Ekiti/Osun, Kano, Ikeja, Anambra/Enugu and Bauchi/Benue/Plateau have index scores above the 50 base points with increase in the quarter under review.  The scores indicate continuous improvement of the confidence of manufacturers operating in the zones in the economy.

Index scores of Abuja zone increased to 50.7 points in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 43.5 points obtained in the preceding quarter.  The score indicates a significant improvement in the confidence of the manufacturers operating in the zone.

Apart from the general macroeconomic challenges that affect all the zones, it is important to examine and address State-specific challenges as they concerns the zones.

The report stated that apart from the general macroeconomic challenges that affect all the zones, it is important to examine and address State-specific challenges as they concerns the zones.

The fourth quarter of 2022 according to the report was adversely affected by escalation in the Consumer Price Index  (CPI), continuous erosion in Naira value and difficulty in accessing forex,  high cost of energy, persisting insecurity and the consequences of  lingering  Russian-Ukrainian war.

These issues among others the report stated are principally responsible for the difficult operating environment and its declining implication on manufacturing activities in the country during the quarter under review.

The index score of the current quarter though below that of the previous quarter, indicates that manufacturers generally still have confidence in the economy.

Across Sectoral groups however, activities in the Pulp, Paper, Printing & Publishing with index score of 49.6 points and Motor Vehicle & Miscellaneous Assembly (48.4 points) are negatively affected by the harsh operating environment in the quarter under review as their index scores fell below the 50 base points.

Similarly, among industrial zones, activities in Rivers/Bayelsa (48.0 points) and Cross-Rivers/Akwa-Ibom (46.5 points) zones were depressed by high-cost of operating environment in the fourth quarter of 2022 as underlined by their index scores which fell below the benchmark points

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