Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KINSHASA172
2008-02-19 12:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

Request for Exemption from Local Exchange Rate Adjustments

Tags:  ALOW AMGT AFIN ABUD CG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKI #0172/01 0501203
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191203Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7551
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000172 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR A/OPR/ALS RPASCHALL and ATHURMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ALOW AMGT AFIN ABUD CG
SUBJECT: Request for Exemption from Local Exchange Rate Adjustments
to COLA

REF: 07 Kinshasa 1422

04 Kinshasa 1952

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000172

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR A/OPR/ALS RPASCHALL and ATHURMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ALOW AMGT AFIN ABUD CG
SUBJECT: Request for Exemption from Local Exchange Rate Adjustments
to COLA

REF: 07 Kinshasa 1422

04 Kinshasa 1952


1. This is an action cable. Please see para. 9.


2. Summary: The DRC economy is very "dollarized." Shopkeepers
expect to be paid in dollars, post most prices in Congolese francs,
and factor francs/dollar exchange rate increases immediately into
those prices. This practice effectively eliminates any exchange
rate gains. Most goods are imported from distant markets using
foreign exchange and requiring high transport costs. That foreign
exchange (euros purchased with dollars) costs nearly 25 percent more
than it did 18 months ago. Inflation, exchange rate, and
transportation costs have pushed prices higher over the last quarter
and there is no end in sight. Post requests immediate waiver of
Post Allowance adjustment tied to exchange rate fluctuations. End
Summary.

--------------
A "Dollarized" Economy
--------------


3. (U) The DRC economy, especially in Kinshasa and other provincial
capitals, is almost completely, although unofficially, dollarized.
The Congolese franc (FC),currently trading at around FC 550 to the
USD, is a non-convertible currency outside of the DRC. In some
border areas, such as northeast Congo on the Ugandan border, even
foreign currencies besides the USD are preferred to the FC. The
largest denomination, now worth well less than a dollar, is the 500
franc note. Embassy personnel, other expatriates, and even many
Congolese deal exclusively in dollars, except for small purchases
and gratuities. Post has determined that less than 10 percent of
exchanges at the Embassy cashier are for francs, and even then for
small amounts. Most personnel receive enough francs in change
(shops in Kinshasa don't deal in one dollar notes) to satisfy their
needs for small bills.

-------------- --------------
Store Prices Keep Pace with Exchange Rate Increases
-------------- --------------


4. (U) Shops that cater to expatriate and well-to-do Congolese
shoppers, of which there are dozens in Kinshasa, display their items
in either USD or FC. Large ticket items tend to be priced in
dollars. Shopkeepers use the following system in order to keep up

with both exchange rate fluctuation and double-digit inflation:
Instead of price tags on individual items, a sticker with a code
(e.g. B2) is displayed on the shelf underneath the items. Nearby,
in every aisle, is a pricelist photocopy that links the code to a
price in FC. Shoppers must make the calculation back into USD.
Store owners are thus able to change prices throughout the store
(there are only a couple hundred codes) at will, depending upon the
movement of the exchange rate and recent inflation. There is
virtually no lag time between an exchange rate change and the
accompanying price change on the shelves, based upon the original
cost of the item in USD (known to the owner) and the current FC/USD
rate. Prices in FC are never adjusted downward, only upward.
Cashiers use hand-held calculators to convert the FC total into a
USD price.

-------------- --------------
Even "Local Products" are Imported Long Distances
-------------- --------------


5. (U) Much of what post personnel purchase regularly for their
households comes from these local stores. Virtually every item in
these stores is imported from Europe or South Africa. They are
purchased either in euros (EUR) or rand (ZAR),which are obtained
initially using USD (ref A). Even so-called local products, such as
eggs and bread, are produced using imported materials, such as
chicken feed and flour (imported directly or ground locally from
imported wheat). Shopkeepers know the cost of their goods in
dollars, including large transport costs for importing the items
(perishables by air from Johannesburg, Brussels, Paris, etc.;
non-perishables by sea to Matadi, the most expensive port on a
per-ton basis in the world). When the exchange rate rises (the FC
depreciates) or inflation is particularly high, they merely raise
the prices in FC to meet the new macroeconomic situation. This is
done to recuperate their costs, maintain their profit margin, and
prepare to pay the rising costs necessary to restock their shelves.


--------------
Dollar to Euro Exchange Rate Rules
--------------


6. (U) The FC/USD rate, therefore, is irrelevant to post personnel
cost of living except for how a store prices an item, based upon its
dollar value. What is relevant, however, is the USD/EUR exchange
rate, since the majority of the items for sale in local stores come
from European sources. (Note: South African goods such as wine are

available for sale, but the ZAR/USD rate has remained stable at
around 7.0 for at least the past year. End note.) Since April
2006, when the prior local exchange rate adjustment waiver was
rescinded, the USD/EUR rate has risen (the dollar has depreciated
against the euro) from about 1.20 to nearly 1.50, almost a 25
percent decrease in buying power. Coupled with annual double digit
inflation in the DRC over the last few years, the cost of purchasing
food and other household necessities in Kinshasa has gone up
appreciably since 4/06.

-------------- --------------
U.S. Chicken 25 Percent More Expensive Since October
-------------- --------------


7. (U) A very recent example from Econcouns firsthand experience: a
local food wholesaler sells frozen U.S. chicken leg quarters in 20
kilo boxes. As recently as October 2007, these sold for FC 10,000
(USD 20). As of February, only three months later, the same box is
now selling for over FC 14,000 (over USD 25). This 25 percent
increase (in dollar terms) over three months is due to three
factors: to cover exchange rate increases (FC 500/USD to FC
550/USD),rising inflation in the DRC (over 5 percent since November
1, 2007) and higher transportation costs (air, sea, and land)
occasioned by higher international fuel prices. This example could
be repeated for any number of food and household items, all
purchased wholesale and imported using USD, EUR, and ZAR.

--------------
FC/USD Rate and Prices Go Up
--------------


8. (U) As in October 2004, when the last local exchange rate
adjustment waiver was requested and granted (ref B),local prices
are increasing due to FC depreciation (higher FC/USD exchange
rates),monthly inflation equal to annual inflation in the U.S., and
higher transportation costs attached to products imported from long
distances. We fully expect that if this trend continues, the rising
FC/USD exchange rate, despite being largely the basis for higher
prices in stores, could actually trigger a reduction in Post
Allowance. Due to the ongoing uncertain security in eastern Congo,
the continuing high price of fuel and transport, and the unstable
macroeconomic situation (Note: the IMF has backed off on its earlier
plan to reinstate a formal program for the DRC, due to recent
macroeconomic instability. End note.) post does not expect the
Congolese economy to improve dramatically in the near future.


9. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Based upon the considered expectation that
the USD will continue to strengthen against the FC and that dollar
denominated import prices (in turn based upon an ever-worsening
USD/EUR exchange rate) will be reflected in local retail pricing,
post requests a waiver from automatic Post Allowance adjustments
based upon local exchange rate fluctuations. Post understands that
such an exemption will require that an annual Retail Price Survey be
conducted for the duration of the waiver.

GARVELINK