The SAFE recently released the official data on China’s Balance of Payments Statement for Q2 and H1 of 2012.

In Q2 of 2012, the surplus under China’s current account totaled USD53.7 billion. Specifically, according to the statistical coverage of the balance of payments, the surplus in goods and current transfers reached USD90.9 billion and USD600 million respectively, whereas the deficit in trade in services and income amounted to USD22.2 billion and USD15.6 billion respectively. Meanwhile, the deficit under the capital and financial account totaled USD41.2 billion. In particular, net inflows of direct investments, portfolio investments, and net outflows of other investments amounted to USD41.1 billion, USD11.1 billion, and USD94.4 billion respectively. International reserve assets (exclusive of the influence of non-transaction changes in value, such as exchange rates and prices) registered a drop of USD11.8 billion. Specifically, transactions in foreign exchange reserve assets registered a drop of USD11.2 billion, and special drawing rights and the reserve position in the IMF experienced a drop of USD500 million.

In the first half of 2012, China’s surplus under the current account totaled USD77.2 billion. The ratio of the surplus under the current account to GDP during the same period was 2.1 percent. Meanwhile, China’s surplus under the capital and financial account totaled USD14.9 billion. China’s international reserve assets posted an increase of USD62.9 billion.

In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the data and analysis of China’s balance of payments among all social groups, the BOP Analysis Team of the SAFE released China’s Balance of Payments Report for the First Half of 2012.