As has been happening in recent months, despite the strong purchases of foreign currency, the International Reserves of the Central Bank (BCRA) They rose in April by just US$ 451 million. The thing is that, mainly there were payments to the IMF (US$ 1,927 million), other net capital payments to the rest of the international organizations for US$ 521 million and the foreign currency holdings of the entities in the BCRA fell for US$ 513 million. , according to the Central Bank’s Exchange Balance released this Friday.
According to the Report, last month:
• On the side ofIn foreign trade there were net income of US$2,737 million, due to export charges for US$5,896 million, partially offset by import payments for US$3,159 million, 41% below the same month of the previous year. “This value was below the imports of FOB goods for the month, which were US$ 4,471 million, which would indicate an increase in commercial indebtedness, a decrease in external assets or the making of payments through other mechanisms. ”says the Report.
• The Report clarifies that the sector “Oilseeds and cereals In the month of April, foreign currency sales were totaled due to receipts from exports of goods through the exchange market. US$ 2,008 million, which means a reduction of 27% year-on-year. And “it is explained mainly by the impact of the Export Increase Program scheme and, secondly, by the presence of heavy rains that delayed the grain harvest and the loading of trucks.”
• For its part, the operations of the exchange financial account of the General Government and the BCRA showed a deficit of US$ 2,404 million due to the aforementioned payments to financial organizations and due to the payments of other financial loans and debt securities US$ 72 million.
• Nevertheless, The total gross public debt increased by the equivalent of US$ 11,019 million because, although the debt in foreign currency decreased by US$ 2,245 million, the debt in pesos increased by an equivalent amount in dollars of US$ 13,264 million. And this happened due to the impact of the increase in the exchange rate on the debt denominated in dollars payable in pesos and the inflation index on the debt in pesos adjustable by CER and due to the net issuance of debt and the capitalization of interest of the LECAP, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CPO).
• For its part, there was a net outflow of US$290 million in April, mainly due to net interest payments of US$276 million. The “General Government and BCRA” totaled payments of US$168 million, of which US$149 million corresponded to interest payments to international organizations (excluding the IMF) and US$19 million to other government interest payments, while The private sector made gross transfers of US$ 144 million. Additionally, gross outflows of profits, dividends and other income abroad amounted to US$ 14 million.
• Unlike what has been happening until now, in April 208,000 people sold dollar bills for US$ 14 million and only 51,000 bought them for just US$ 9 million.
• The “Services” account recorded a deficit of US$ 183 million, 64% lower than the net expenses of April 2023. The net expenses for “Travel, tickets and other card payments”, “Freight and insurance ” and “Other” for US$335 million, US$74 million and US$25 million, respectively, partially offset by net revenues from “Professional and Technical Business Services” for US$251 million