The increase was the result of:
a. Foreign exchange purchases by the Bank of Israel totaling approximately $739 million.
b. Private sector transfers of approximately $2,202 million.
c. A revaluation[1] that increased the reserves by approximately $1,161 million.
d. Government transfers from abroad totaling approximately $157 million.
Israel's Foreign Exchange Reserves ($ million)
Date |
Reserves excluding IMF (including reserves bought under the natural gas purchase program) |
Reserves at the IMF[2] |
Total Foreign Exchange Reserves |
December 2020 |
171,242c |
2,055 |
173,297c |
January 2021 |
177,444c |
2,057 |
179,501c |
February 2021 |
182,990c |
2,065 |
185,055c |
March 2021 |
183,664c |
2,016 |
185,680c |
April 2021 |
191,957c |
2,043 |
194,000c |
May 2021 |
196,348 |
2,002 |
198,350 |
June 2021 |
198,192 |
1,983 |
200,175 |
July 2021 |
199,709c |
1,986 |
201,695c |
August 2021 |
201,305c |
4,602d |
205,907c |
September 2021 |
199,430c |
4,550 |
203,980c |
October 2021 |
202,892 |
4,581 |
207,473 |
November 2021 |
204,152 |
4,618c |
208,770c |
December 2021 |
208,356 |
4,673 |
213,029 |
Figure 1
Level of foreign exchange reserves, and their ratio to GDP, 2007–21
a Includes Bank of Israel payments and receipts in foreign currency.
b This column includes Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the balance of NAB loans, and the balance of Israel's reserve tranche at the IMF.
c Updated after the original date of publication.
d On August 23, the International Monetary Fund allocated approximately $2.6 billion to Israel, as part of the IMF allocation to all of the organization’s member countries totaling $650 billion. Together with this increase in reserves at the IMF, a long-term liability to the IMF—in the amount that was allocated—was added to the Bank of Israel balance sheet.