Main aspects
In January, the BCRA and the entities bought USD 783 million and USD 184 million, respectively, in the spot exchange market, which were sold by the entities’ customers, USD 967 million.
Companies in the real sector were net sellers of foreign currency for USD 1,178 million.
Within that group, the main sector with net supply in historical terms, “Oilseeds and cereals”, had net sales of USD 1,639 million, 18% below its net sales in January 2019. The cancellation of foreign debt by advances and pre-financing in January partially reverses the debt taken from the previous two-month period.
Companies in the “Real Non-Oilseeds and Cereals Sector” made net purchases of USD 460 million, mainly for the cancellation of debt interest, and to make net payments for goods and services.
The “Individuals”, which basically demand foreign currency for hoarding and trips abroad, bought USD 232 million net (USD 32 million for banknotes and USD 200 million for the rest of their operations).
“Institutional and other investors,” both resident and non-resident, made net sales in the month of USD 333 million.
The foreign exchange current account, which includes the net result of foreign exchange operations recorded as net exports of goods and services, and primary and secondary income in line with the definitions of the Balance of Payments, registered a surplus of USD 50 million.
The financial account of the “Non-Financial Private Sector” had a deficit of USD 181 million, basically as a result of net cancellations of financial debt, partially offset by income linked to direct investments.
The operations of the financial account of the “Financial Sector” resulted in a surplus of USD 494 million, explained by the decrease in the liquid foreign assets of the entities that make up the General Exchange Position.
The foreign exchange financial account of the General Government and BCRA resulted in a deficit of USD 767 million, explained by net payments of financial debt.
During January, international reserves increased by USD 69 million, ending the month with a stock of USD 44,917 million.
