Hire-purchase NPLs to stabilise this year: Fitch
FITCH RATINGS says the deterioration in the asset quality of Thai banks' automotive hire-purchase loans is likely to bottom out in the first half of this year, with the performance of banks dependent on the likely stabilising of this asset class.
The ratio of non-performing loans (NPLs) to total auto loans in the banking system rose to 2.5 per cent in 2014 from 2 per cent in 2013.
That period of excessive growth, coupled with weak economic conditions, led to a gradual increase in default rates as well as falling second-hand car prices. However, further downside is limited.
The default risk on hire-purchase lending is usually highest during the first 24 months of the loan, and auto loans grew at a much slower 8.4 per cent in 2013 and decreased by 3.4 per cent in 2014.
Furthermore, most banks have tightened their underwriting standards over the past year, which is evident in their lower loan-to-value ratios and adjustments on their automobile-price references for vehicle pledging.
Improved economic growth in 2015 (Fitch forecasts growth of 4 per cent, compared to 0.7 per cent in 2014) will also underpin auto-loan asset quality.
However, some risks do remain. Consumer leverage is high, with Thailand's ratio of household debt to GDP at 85 per cent as of September 2014, while a slower-than-expected economic recovery could impact the debt-servicing ability of some of the banks' customers. Also, subdued farm income as a result of lower prices for agricultural products could put pressure on consumer incomes.
Nevertheless, in the event of another economic downturn, large banks reliant on the hire-purchase business would be more resilient because of their more diverse loan portfolios, larger profit bases and higher capitalisation, which would enable them to more easily absorb losses on repossessed cars. However, a severe and prolonged economic downturn could pressure ratings.