Recent Country Risk Changes

Updated 1 Jul 2008

Premium Changes in Latin America

1 Jul 2008

Following quarterly OECD meetings in June 2008 regarding premium changes in Belize, Paraguay and Peru, the following countries have been upgraded:
Of the 35 countries reviewed, three were reclassified:

• Belize - upgraded from country risk rating 7 to 6
• Paraguay - upgraded from country risk rating 6 to 5
• Peru - upgraded from country risk rating 4 to 3

 

Premium Changes in Asia and Africa

1 May 2008

Following quarterly OECD meetings the following countries have been upgraded or downgraded:

• Cambodia upgraded from country risk rating 7 to a 6
• Lesotho upgraded from country risk rating 6 to a 5
• Maldives downgraded from country risk rating  5 to a 6
• Mongolia upgraded from country risk rating 7 to a 6
• Philippines upgraded from country risk rating 5 to a 4
• Sri Lanka downgraded from country risk rating 5 to a 6

 

Premium Changes in Various Countries

14 February 2008

Following quarterly OECD meetings in January 2008 regarding premium changes in the regions of Europe and the C.I.S. as well as Angola, Syria and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB), the following countries have been upgraded:

• Czech Republic upgraded from country risk rating 1 to 0
• Montenegro upgraded from country risk rating 7 to 6
• Turkey upgraded from country risk rating 5 to 4
• Turkmenistan upgraded from country risk rating 7 to 6
• Uzbekistan upgraded from country risk rating 7 to 6
• Angola upgraded from country risk rating 7 to 6

 

Premium Changes in Africa

3 November 2007

Following the quarterly OECD meeting in October regarding Western and Northern Africa, Benin and Nigeria have been upgraded to country risk category 6.

 

Premium Changes in Africa, Latin America and Middle East

Following the yearly OECD meeting in June regarding Central & Eastern Africa, and Latin America the following countries have been upgraded:

• Honduras and Uganda have both been upgraded to country risk category 6;
• Uruguay has been upgraded to country risk 4; and
• Brazil and Panama have both been upgraded to country risk 3.

Iran was also discussed and that resulted in a downgrading to category 6.

 

Premium reductions in Southern Africa and Asia

Following an annual review of the countries in Southern Africa and Asia, the following countries have been upgraded:

• Mozambique and Zambia have both been upgraded to country risk class 6 (reflecting positive effects of ongoing economic reforms);
• Hong Kong has been upgraded to country risk 1; and
• Vietnam has been upgraded to country risk 4 (although certain restrictions on corporate risks are maintained).

 

Lower Premiums for Eastern Europe

27 February 2007

Due to strong economic and financial developments, the country risk classifications for the following European countries have been upgraded:

• Slovenia is upgraded to country risk class 0;
• Bulgaria , Romania and Russia are upgraded to country risk class 3;
• Macedonia and Ukraine are upgraded to country risk class 5; and
• Georgia is upgraded to class 6.

Conversely, the country risk classifications for Hungary and Latvia have been downgraded to class 3, due to slower growth prospects and weakening fiscal performance.

  

Fiji

11 December 2006

Fiji country risk is currently under review.