Page 79 - RusRPTSept21

The Central Bank reported that Russians have started to exchange currency more often in the first half of 2021. Volumes of foreign currencies exchanged in June soared by 29% compared to last year, the Izvestia TV channel reported, with the average check amounting to $1,000. Russians have been increasingly keen to get rid of their US dollar savings, with sales surging by 10% compared to last year, while the purchases of US currency decreased by 24% in January-June 2021.
The situation with the euro was reversed, with Russians selling it 22% less than in 2020, and buying it 29% more. The volume of currency sold on the domestic market totaled RUB1.685 trillion ($22.27bn) in the first six months of 2021.
Meanwhile, the Russian central bank also reported a surge in sales of currencies to non-residents. In July, they bought RUB61bn worth of international currencies on the Russian market, according to the data from the regulator’s survey on financial market risks.
79 RUSSIA Country Report September 2021 www.intellinews.com