The IMF has cut its growth forecasts for the Mongolian economy in 2013 and beyond due to continued weakness in the global economy, particularly in China. GDP growth in Mongolia is now expected to be 11.8% in 2013, down from a previous forecast of 14%, and growth rates are expected to slow further to 5.8% in 2015 and 3.6% in 2016. Of concern is the rebalancing underway in China towards domestic consumption, which could reduce demand for Mongolia's commodity exports. The World Economic Outlook database shows Mongolia's export growth forecasts have been significantly revised downward.

1. MONTHLY MACROECONOMIC OVERVIEW
September 2013
MAIN INDICATORS: GDP, STATE BUDGET, FOREIGN TRADE, EXCHANGE RATE, INFLATION
Source: NSO, BoM
Economic growth rebounded in the second quarter
2013. Real GDP grew by 14.3 per cent in the second
quarter to June, a strong improvement on the 7.1 per cent
growth recorded for the twelve months to March 2013.
Expansion in the first half was 11.3 per cent, a slow-down
from the 13.1 per cent growth recorded for the same period
one year prior. In current prices, GDP amounted to MNT
7,591 billion for the first six months of 2013 and grew by
18.8 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.
Growth was driven by increases in government spending
from the Chinggis bond proceeds, although agriculture also
grew strongly.
The accumulative 2013 budget for the cental and local
governments is still recording a deficit of MNT 131
billion /the total budget revenue and expenditure amounts
to MNT 3,937 and MNT 4,068 billion/. The deficit is an
improvement from the same period last year, when
combined government finances were in deficit of MNT 558
billion. Revenue remains 13 per cent higher while
expenditure remains the same because of some 17 per cent
spending cuts in subsidies and transfers as well as 32 per
cent in investment through internal sources.
The trade balance was in deficit USD $1.7 billion for the
nine months to September. The total turnover of trade
reached USD 7.9 billion, a decrease of 6.5 per cent from the
same period last year. Both exports and imports are lower
compared to last year, with exports of USD $3.1 billion
down 4.1 per cent since last year, and imports of USD $4.8
billion down 8 per cent. The slow-down in coal exports
continues, down 45 per cent in value and 20 per cent in
volume compared to the same period last year.
The Mongolian Tugrik depreciated sharply in
September. The monthly average exchange rate fell 5.9 per
cent to 1,662 MNT against the USD. The biggest daily fall
in the value of the tugrik reached 1,723 in September. The
value of the tugrik has fallen 19.2 per cent over the past
year to September. The total amount of foreign currency
reserves reached USD 2,679.6 million decreasing by 1.7 per
cent compared to the previous month. Compared to the
same period last year, foreign currency reserves are now
down 7.7 per cent.
Inflation increased slightly to 9.9 per cent in the year to
September.
Compared to September 2012 it decreased by 4.9 units. The
year to date inflation rate was 8.2 per cent, while inflation
for the month of September was a modest 1.4 per cent.
During this month the prices of Clothing, footwear and
cloth, and Alcoholic beverages, tobacco increased as well
as that of housing, water, electricity and fuels.
11.3 9.6
14.0
7.1
14.3
0
10
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
2Q12
3Q12
4Q12
1Q13
2Q13
Economic growth
GDP, at current
prices (left)
GDP growth,
year-on-year, at
constant prices
(right)
(%(MNT trillion)
3.49
4.04
(0.56)
3.94 4.07
(0.13)-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
Revenue Expenditure Balance
General Government budget
09'12
09'13
(MNT trillion,
in the first 9 months)
3.2
5.2
(2.0)
3.1
4.8
(1.7)-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Export Import Balance
Foreign trade
09'12
09'13
1,200
1,300
1,400
1,500
1,600
09'12
10'12
11'12
01'13
02'13
03'13
04'13
05'13
06'13
07'13
08'13
09'13Exchange rate - to depreciate
 - to appreciate
 - to depreciate
 - to appreciate
1.0
12.2
14.8
1.4
8.2
9.9
0
5
10
15
20
Monthly YTD YOY
Inflation
09'12
09'13
(1$=...₮, monthly average)
(Consumer price index growth, nationwide, September)
(USD billion,
in the first 9 months)
Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Center
www.ecrc.mn

2. MONTHLY MACROECONOMIC OVERVIEW
September 2013
FINANCIAL SECTOR: MONEY SUPPLY, DEPOSITS, LOANS
Source: NSO, BoM
Summary
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its 2013 growth forecast for the Mongolian economy,the latest World Economic Outlook
(WEO) released on 7 October2013 shows. GDP is now expected to grow by 11.8% in 2013, revised down from the IMF’s previous
growth forecast of 14.0% in April. Economic growth in 2014 is expected to be around 11.7%, slightly higher than the
11.6% previously forecast. Of most concern, GDP growth forecasts for Mongolia in 2015 and 2016 have been slashed. The Mongolian
economy is now expected to grow by a modest 5.8% in 2015, down from 7.6% forecast in April, while 2016 growth is expected to be
only 3.6%, down from 9.5% forecast in April.
These cuts to the growth forecasts for Mongolia have been driven by continued uncertainty and weakness in the global economy,
particularly in China. The IMF argues that although advanced economies such as the US and Europe are gradually strengthening, growth
in emerging markets has slowed. Accordingly, the IMF cut its growth forecasts for China to 7.6% in 2013 (down from 7.8% in July) and
7.3% in 2014 (from 7.7% in July) as part of this latest World Economic Outlook.
Of particular concern for Mongolia isthe rebalancing underway in China from an investment based economy to a consumption based
economy. As demand shifts away from materials-intensive growth, some commodity exporters could be vulnerable, the IMF notes that.
The WEO October 2013 database demonstrates this vulnerability for Mongolia, with expectations for growth in Mongolia’s exports
dramatically revised down. For instance growth in exports in 2016 which were previously forecast in April to increase by 22.7% are now
forecast to fall by 3.9%. Over the longer term, the Chinese slowdown and associated rebalancing of the Chinese economy could have a
dramatic impact on Mongolia’s economic growth. The IMF has estimated the impact of a slowdown in Chinese growth from an average
of 10 percent during the previous decade to an average of 7½ percent over the coming decade on Mongolia. It found that Mongolia’s
GDP level in 2025 is estimated to be about 7 percent lower than otherwise, primarily as a result of slower Chinese demand for coal, iron
ore, and copper.
> The year’s Conference of Asian Bankers Association (ABA) focused on the theme “Asia: Growth Engine of the Global
Economy” was organized for the first time in Mongolia.
The money supply (M2) slightly increased in September.
M2 rose 0.9 per cent from the previous month reaching
MNT 8.5 trillion or USD 5.1 billion. M2 is 19.3 per cent
higher than the same period in September 2012. Currency
issued in circulation rose by 0.8 per cent, and remains 17.3
per cent higher than the previous year to be MNT 875
billion. Currency issued in circulation amounts to 10.3 per
cent of the M2.
Bank deposits fell by 0.8 per cent in September to MNT
5.3 trillion. Deposits are now 16.3 per cent higher than a
year ago amounting to USD 3.2 billion. Deposits in foreign
currency fell by 11.4 per cent to MNT 1.2 trillion, while
MNT deposits rose by 2.9 per cent to MNT 4.1 trillion.
Foreign currency deposits are now 17.2 per cent lower than
one year ago, while MNT desposits are 32.5 per cent
higher.
Non-performing loans rose in September.
This sharp rise in non-performing loans, from MNT 136
million to MNT 537 billion in the last three month,
represents a 75.4 per cent increase from the same period last
year. Non-peforming loans amount to 5.3 per cent of the
total amount of loans outstanding. Total loans outstanding
rose 3.8 per cent to MNT 10.2 trillion or USD 6.1 billion,
an increase of 47.9 per cent in the past year. The annual
interest rate (weighted average) for loans in MNT increased
by 0.4 percentage points and decreased by 2.1 percentage
points for loans in foreign currency from last year reaching
19 per cent and 12.1 per cent respectively.
Monthly highlights
> The “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” company begins to export coal from the West Tsankhi. It plans to export 7.5 million tons of coal this year,
of which 4.5 million tons will be extracted from the East Tsankhi, and 3-3.5 million tons from the West Tsankhi site.
> EBRD, the Bank of Mongolia and the Ministry of Finance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding under the EBRD’s Early
Transition Countries (ETCs) Local Currency Lending Program. Donors will share the loan risk providing to borrowers such as micro,
small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) loans at affordable interest rates.
11.6
10.5
10.3 10.3
10
11
12
13
14
0
2
4
6
8
10
08'12 09'12 08'13 09'13
Money supply
M2 (left)
Share of
Currency issued
in circulation
(right)
(MNT trillion, at the end of month) (%)
0
2
3
5
6
08'12 09'12 08'13 09'13
Deposits
Total
Foreign currency
MNT
4.7
4.5
4.8
5.3
2
4
6
8
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
08'12 09'12 08'13 09'13
Loans
Loans
outstanding
(left)
Share of Non-
performing
loans (right)
(%
(MNT trillion, at the end of month)
(MNT trillion, at the end of month)
Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Center
www.ecrc.mn