Foreign Exchange Reserves at the Bank of Israel, July 2021

Israel’s foreign exchange reserves at the end of July 2021 stood at $201,694 million, an increase of $1,519 million from their level at the end of the previous month. The reserves represent 49 percent of GDP (Figure 1).

 

The increase was the result of:

a.       Foreign exchange purchases by the Bank of Israel totaling approximately $500 million.

b.      Private sector transfers of approximately $8 million.

c.       A revaluation^[1] that increased the reserves by approximately $1,115 million.

 

In contrast, the increase was partly offset by government transfers to abroad totaling approximately $104 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
July 2020	155,772c	1,891	157,663c
August 2020	159,789	1,899	161,688
September 2020	158,700	1,884	160,584
October 2020	158,859c	1,889	160,748c
November 2020	165,033c	1,914	166,947c
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	199,708	1,986	201,694

 

 

 

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^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.​