As per NBU data, this indicator is in surplus for the first time since 2010.
The balance of payments of Ukraine in 2015 returned to surplus position. The surplus balance was USD 849 mln in the previous year, RBC-Ukraine reports quoting the NBU press-service.
In 2014 the external imbalance of the country was negative – USD 13.3 billion. As per regulator’s data, for the last time the balance of payment was in surplus in 2010.
As per the NBU message, the positive balance value is preconditioned, first of all, by the significant reduction of deficit on current account. In the previous year this indicator was minimum since 2005 – USD 204 mln (0.2% from GDP), while in 2014 it was USD 4.6 billion (3.5% from GDP).
Corrections of current account also furthered acceleration of the fall in imports (by 33.5%) versus the fall in exports (30.5%).
The Ukrainian export was influenced by unfavorable foreign economic situation on the market of metals and agricultural products as well as restrictions in trade with RF. The export of engineering, metallurgical and chemical products reduced more than others.
The simultaneous drop in prices for energy resources, smaller physical volumes of imports of natural gas, high yield of certain types of grain crops, in particular wheat, to some extent have compensated the negative impact of the fall in exports.
The balance of payments position and surplus of financial account improved. Net contributions on financial account was USD 488 mln, this all happened mostly by virtue of significant volumes of official funding from international partners.
The positive impact on the account was also made by the net inflow of foreign direct investment (USD 3.1 bln). Three fourths out of this amount fall on banking sector.
The formation of surplus of balance of payments with obtaining funding from the International Monetary Funds (IMF) allowed to increase international reserves up to USD 13.3 billion (funding of imports of the future period within 3.4 months).