According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new SME lending approved by Macao banks rebounded in the second half of 2012. Concurrently, the utilisation of SME credit in proportion to the credit limit approved by banks continued to contract.

New Lending Approved

In the second half of 2012, new SME credit limit approved by Macao banks totalled MOP12.2 billion, up by 82.6% from the first half year of 2012 but down 28.1% from the same period of 2011. The collateralised ratio, which indicates the proportion of credit limit with tangible assets pledged, was 64.8%, up 1.6 percentage points when compared with the last survey period or 4.0 percentage points when compared with the same period of 2011.

Credit Utilisation

As at end-December 2012, the outstanding value of total SME loans increased 3.2% from end-June but down 5.3% from a year earlier to MOP31.9 billion. When compared with end-June 2012, SME loans to “education”, “information technology” and “restaurants, hotels and similar activities” increased at respective rates of 29.2%, 17.2% and 11.3%, whereas those to “wholesale and retail trade” and “construction and public works” dropped 14.4% and 14.3% respectively.

The utilisation rate, defined as the proportion of outstanding credit balance to the credit limit granted, dropped 1.5 percentage points from six months ago to 57.5%.

Delinquent Loans

At the end of December 2012, the outstanding balance of delinquent SME loans decreased by 29.7% from six months ago to MOP301.0 million. Compared to a year ago, the balance dropped 41.6%. The delinquency ratio, a ratio of delinquent loans outstanding balance to total SME loans outstanding, dropped 0.44 percentage points from end-June 2012 or 0.59 percentage points from a year earlier to 0.94%.

For enquiry, please contact:

Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao

(Tel：83952532; Fax：28353042)