Bank Negara released its international reserves as of end February with total reserve assets amounting to USD114 billion while other foreign currency assets amounted to USD202.7 million.
The pre-determined short- term outflows of foreign currency loans, securities and deposits, which include among others, scheduled repayment of external borrowings by the Government and the maturity of foreign currency Bank Negara Interbank Bills, amounted to USD16,329.5 million. The net short forward positions amounted to USD22,586.1 million as at end-February 2024, reflecting the management of ringgit liquidity in the money market. In line with the practice adopted since April 2006, the data excludes projected foreign currency inflows arising from interest income and the drawdown of project loans.
Projected foreign currency inflows amount to USD2,458.2 million in the next 12 months.
The only contingent short-term net drain on foreign currency assets is Government guarantees of foreign currency debt due
within one year, amounting to USD400.9 million. There are no foreign currency loans with embedded options, and no undrawn, unconditional credit lines provided by or to other central banks, international organisations, banks and other financial institutions. Bank Negara Malaysia also does not engage in foreign currency options vis-à-vis ringgit.
Overall, BNM said the the detailed breakdown of international reserves format indicates that as at end-February 2024, Malaysia’s international reserves remain usable.
