PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s international reserves stood at US$112.46 billion at the end of August 2023 while other foreign currency assets amounted to US$1.70 million, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
“Over the next 12 months, the predetermined short-term outflows of foreign currency loans, securities, and deposits, which include, among others, scheduled repayment of external borrowings by the government and the maturity of foreign currency BNM interbank bills, will amount to US$17.56 billion.
“The net short forward positions amounted to US$22.89 billion as at end-August 2023, which reflected the management of ringgit liquidity in the money market,” it said.
In a press statement today, BNM said that the detailed breakdown of international reserves provides forward-looking information on the size, composition, and usability of reserves and other foreign currency assets.
This detailed breakdown is in accordance with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s special data dissemination standard (SDDS) format.
It, however, excludes the projected foreign currency inflows that arise from interest income and the drawdown of project loans.
The projected foreign currency inflows will amount to US$2.23 billion over the next 12 months, said BNM.
In addition, it said government guarantees of foreign currency debt due within one year amounting to US$369.5 million is the only contingent short-term net drain on foreign currency assets.
“There are no foreign currency loans with embedded options and no undrawn, unconditional credit lines provided by or to other central banks, international organisations, banks, and other financial institutions.
“Overall, the detailed breakdown of international reserves under the IMF SDDS format indicates that as at end-August 2023, Malaysia’s international reserves remain usable,” BNM concluded.
