The increase was the result of:
a. Foreign currency purchases by the Bank of Israel totaling $1,365 million, of which $250 million were bought as part of the purchase program intended to offset the effects of natural gas production on the exchange rate.
b. A revaluation[a] that increased the reserves by about $10 million.
c. Private sector transfers of about $207 million.
The increase was offset by government transfers to abroad totaling about $1,162 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[b] |
Total Foreign Exchange Reserves |
February 2016 |
9,000 |
89,341c |
1,278 |
90,619c |
March 2016 |
9,300 |
93,476c |
1,304 |
94,780c |
April 2016 |
9,300 |
94,378c |
1,306 |
95,684c |
May 2016 |
9,600 |
95,170 |
1,293 |
96,463 |
June 2016 |
9,600 |
95,594 |
1,041 |
96,635 |
July 2016 |
9,900 |
96,356 |
1,037 |
97,393 |
August 2016 |
9,900 |
96,588 |
1,038 |
97,626 |
September 2016 |
9,900 |
97,380c |
1,049 |
98,429c |
October 2016 |
10,200 |
96,931 |
1,032 |
97,963 |
November 2016 |
10,200 |
95,948 |
1,179 |
97,127 |
December 2016 |
10,500 |
97,275c |
1,172c |
98,447c |
January 2017 |
10,500 |
100,425c |
1,183 |
101,608c |
February 2017 |
10,750 |
100,849 |
1,179 |
102,028 |
[a] This 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 in the IMF.
c Updated after the original date of publication.