Singapore bankruptcies started surging even before coronavirus hit

[SINGAPORE] Singapore is bracing for a further jump in bankruptcies after cases surged to the highest in years even before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

The number of individuals filing for bankruptcy soared 47 per cent from a year earlier to 434 in January, the highest since October 2004, according to the latest data from the Law Ministry's Insolvency Office. Companies in liquidation jumped to 287 last year, the highest since records began in 2005.

Singapore's already-slowing economy is now poised to shrink as the virus slams trade and tourism. That's likely to send more businesses and individuals broke, leading to an increase in bad loans at banks including DBS Group Holdings even as they ease borrowing terms.

"Bank support measures would help bridge short-term liquidity challenges for otherwise healthy borrowers, but their ability to stave off defaults is limited unless the slowdown proves relatively short-lived," said Willie Tanoto, a director at Fitch Ratings' Asia-Pacific Banking team.

Sanford C Bernstein analysts expect soured loans to rise and lending to contract because of the virus-fuelled pain. The non-performing loan ratios for DBS and OCBC could climb to 1.8 per cent this year from 1.5 per cent in 2019, Kevin Kwek and Pranav Gundlapalle said. United Overseas Bank's ratio may jump to 1.9 per cent from 1.5 per cent, they said.

UOB said earlier this month that bad-loan costs are likely to rise more than previously anticipated, due to the outbreak and a dramatic slump in oil prices.

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Singapore's economy may shrink 0.3 per cent this year, with the potential for a more severe decline if the shutdown at neighbouring Malaysia takes a heavier toll, economists at Malayan Banking predict. The government is preparing a second package of stimulus measures on top of the S$6.4 billion allocated last month to fight the coronavirus spread and help businesses and consumers.

"Aspects of government stimulus provide targeted assistance to worst-hit sectors, help fill a demand gap, and augment the pool of bankable credit for commercially viable lending," said Fitch's Mr Tanoto.

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