Ukraine’s international reserves as of January 1, 2023, according to preliminary data, amounted to $28.491 billion, which is 1.9% or $536.4 million more compared to November 2022 due to foreign exchange earnings from international partners that exceeded NBU interventions selling currencies to maintain a fixed exchange rate.
As the NBU reported on its website on Friday evening, in general, they decreased by 7.9%, or $2.45 billion over the year.
The National Bank clarified that net international reserves in December increased by 3.3%, or $579 million, to $18.318 billion, but over the year they decreased by 11.8%, or $2.45 billion.
According to the regulator, in December the dynamics of international reserves was affected by operations to manage public debt. In particular, foreign exchange receipts to the accounts of the government of Ukraine with the NBU in December amounted to $4.468 billion, including from the EU – $598.7 million, from the United States through the World Bank trust fund – $2.03 billion, from the placement of government bonds – $540.7 million, from the World Bank – $402 million, from the Government of Canada – $367.8 million, from other international lenders – $528.9 million.
The total amount of government payments for servicing and repaying state debt in foreign currency amounted to $833.9 million, including $119.6 million directed to repay debt to international creditors, $714.3 million – to service government bonds.
In addition, Ukraine transferred $166.2 million to the IMF.
International reserves were also affected by NBU operations on the interbank market. In particular, they sold $3.193 billion on the foreign exchange market and bought $29.6 million into reserves, due to which the balance of interventions was negative and amounted to $3.163 billion.
In addition, reserves were affected by an upward revaluation of financial instruments by $231.6 million.
According to the NBU, the current volume of international reserves provides funding for 3.6 months of future imports, which is enough to meet Ukraine’s obligations and current operations of the government and the National Bank.
As reported, at the beginning of 2022, Ukraine’s international reserves amounted to $30.941 billion, net international reserves (NIR) – $20.767 billion.
