Page 27 - UKRRptAug21

5.2.3 Gross international reserves
Ukraine’s gross international reserves increased by $0.52bn, or 1.9%, to $28.36bn to 4.3 months of import cover in June, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reported on July 6.
The new government borrowing in foreign currency, coupled with the NBU’s interventions at Ukraine’s FX market, compensated for the government’s payments on foreign and domestic debt.
“An incredibly favourable situation at Ukraine’s FX market prompted the NBU to renew the purchase of foreign currency,” Evgeniya Akhtyrko of Concorde Capital said in a note. “By and large, an additional currency inflow at the market was generated by the purchase of UAH denominated local bonds by non-resident investors. In particular, the volume of local bonds in portfolios of non-resident investors increased by around $450mn in June.”
In June, the foreign currency inflow to the government’s accounts amounted to $1.1bn (in the equivalent). In particular, receipts from placements of local Eurobonds amounted to $726mn.
At the same time, total government payments on the redemption and servicing of state debt in foreign currency amounted to $996mn, of which $848mn was directed to the redemption and servicing of local Eurobonds and $80mn went to payments for servicing international Eurobonds. Payments to the IMF amounted to $2mn.
27 UKRAINE Country Report August 2021 www.intellinews.com