The decrease was the result of:
a. Private sector transfers of approximately $14 million.
b. A revaluation[1] that decreased the reserves by approximately $1,905 million.
In contrast, the decrease was offset by:
a. Foreign exchange purchases by the Bank of Israel totaling $117 million, all of which were part of the purchase program intended to offset the effects of natural gas production on the exchange rate.
b. Government transfers from abroad totaling about $255 million.
Israel's Foreign Exchange Reserves ($ million)
Date |
Reserves bought under the natural gas purchase program |
Reserves excluding IMF (including reserves bought under the natural gas purchase program) |
Reserves at the IMF[2] |
Total Foreign Exchange Reserves |
October 2017 |
12,000 |
109,943 |
1,366 |
111,309 |
November 2017 |
12,000 |
110,734 |
1,345 |
112,079 |
December 2017 |
12,000 |
111,487 |
1,524c |
113,011c |
January 2018 |
12,000 |
116,100c |
1,522 |
117,622c |
February 2018 |
12,304 |
114,783c |
1,510c |
116,293c |
March 2018 |
12,447 |
114,609c |
1,518 |
116,127c |
April 2018 |
12,471 |
113,872 |
1,482 |
115,354 |
May 2018 |
12,625 |
113,239 |
1,461 |
114,700 |
June 2018 |
12,750 |
113,340c |
1,492 |
114,832c |
July 2018 |
12,750 |
114,292 |
1,490 |
115,782 |
August 2018 |
12,923 |
114,520 |
1,485 |
116,005 |
September 2018 |
12,939 |
113,980c |
1,478 |
115,458c |
October 2018 |
13,056 |
112,446 |
1,465 |
113,911 |
[1] This includes Bank of Israel payments and receipts in foreign currency.
[2] 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.