Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini’s Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) have recorded total assets of E126 billion, reflecting continued growth and resilience within the financial sector.
This is according to the 2025 Third Quarter Statistical Report released by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). During the quarter under review, NBFI assets increased by 4.76 per cent, rising to E124 billion from E118 billion in the previous quarter. On a year-on-year basis, the sector recorded a robust growth rate of 13.12 per cent.
Financial markets maintained an upward trajectory, with financial assets rising by 5.97 per cent to E43.46 billion, up from E41.01 billion in the preceding quarter. Compared to the same period last year, financial assets grew by 15.17 per cent from E37.73 billion.
The FTSE/JSE All-Share Index continued its strong rally, reaching new highs during the period under review. Gains exceeded 20 per cent, buoyed largely by firm commodity prices, pushing market capitalisation to E7.7 trillion in October 2025.
Within the SACCO sector, total assets reached E3.34 billion, reflecting a 2.93 per cent quarterly increase from E3.25 billion. Growth was mainly supported by increases in cash and cash equivalents (2.78 per cent), financial investments (12.65 per cent) and the loan portfolio (1.64 per cent), offsetting a sharp 73.96 per cent contraction in prepayments and sundry receivables.
Credit institutions posted modest quarterly growth of 1.37 per cent, with total assets rising from E4.54 billion in Q2 2025 to E4.60 billion in Q3 2025. However, on a year-on-year basis, assets declined by 1.41 per cent from E4.67 billion recorded in Q3 2024. Liabilities increased by 2.02 per cent quarter-on-quarter to E3.89 billion, largely due to higher amounts owed to related parties.
Gross debtors for retail outlets continued to decline, dropping from E303.94 million in Q2 2025 to E298.28 million in Q3 2025. Year-on-year, this represents a significant contraction of 9.87 per cent from E330.95 million, suggesting tighter credit controls or changing consumer borrowing patterns.
Building societies recorded a slight 0.64 per cent increase in total assets to E3.66 billion, driven mainly by a 3.95 per cent rise in net loans and advances.
The insurance sector presented mixed results. Gross Written Premiums (GWP) in the long-term insurance segment grew marginally by 0.43 per cent year-on-year to E780.27 million. Funeral and individual life premiums rose significantly, while endowment premiums increased by 58.76 per cent, though they remain a smaller share of total GWP. In contrast, the short-term insurance sector contracted by 2.59 per cent year-on-year, largely due to declines in workmen’s compensation and engineering-related premiums.
Meanwhile, retirement fund assets expanded by 5.20 per cent quarter-on-quarter to E58.23 billion, supported by strong gains in equities, property and debt instruments.
Overall, the latest figures indicate sustained growth across key segments of Eswatini’s non-banking financial sector, reinforcing its central role in national economic develop
