The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has recently released data on foreign exchange sales and purchases through banks as well as foreign-related receipts and payments by banks on behalf of clients for August 2021. The SAFE Deputy Administrator and Press Spokesperson Wang Chunying answered media questions on China’s foreign exchange receipts and payments for August 2021.
Q: Could you brief us on the changes in China’s foreign exchange receipts and payments for August 2021?

A: China’s foreign exchange market remained stable in August. In terms of the main indicators, the foreign exchange sales and purchases through banks and non-banking sectors’ foreign-related receipts and payments both continued to post a small surplus of US$13.6 billion and US$22 billion respectively, which was mainly attributed to a relatively high level of import and export and a certain amount of surplus in goods trade. By the end of August, the volume of China’s foreign exchange reserves stood at US$3.2321 trillion, down by 0.12% from the last month, mainly affected by the weakening of non-US currencies against the US dollar and changes in asset prices.

The willingness of market entities to sell and purchase foreign exchange was generally stable. In August, both the sales and purchases ratios were almost equal to the monthly average till now, indicating that the transactions and expectations of market entities were basically stable. The sales ratio, which measures clients’ willingness to sell their foreign exchange, or the ratio of foreign exchange sold by clients to banks to their foreign-related foreign exchange receipts, recorded 66%; the purchases ratio, which measures clients’ willingness to buy foreign exchange, or the ratio of foreign exchange bought by clients from banks to their foreign-related foreign exchange payments, reached 64%.

Cross-border capital flows through major channels were in a rational and orderly manner. In August, trade in goods and direct investment remained the main items of net capital inflows, reflecting the supporting role of steady recovery of the domestic economy and a stable and orderly production and supply chain. Affected by the back-to-school season, the demand for overseas study led to an increase in service trade expenditure. Profit remittances, such as corporate dividends, fell from the seasonal peak. Cross-border capital flows under securities investment and other investments were basically balanced.

At present, with continuous plaguing of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world and increasing inflationary pressure in some economies, the world economy sees more instability and uncertainty. However, China’s main macro indicators are within a reasonable range. The quality of economic operation is improving and its development foundation is more consolidated, which will continue to support the smooth operation of China’s foreign exchange market.