KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 — Malaysia’s official reserve assets amounted to US$116.35 billion, while other foreign currency assets stood at US$1.1 billion as of January, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
The central bank said that for the next 12 months, the predetermined short-term outflows of foreign currency loans, securities, and deposits, which include scheduled government external borrowings and the maturity of foreign currency Bank Negara Interbank Bills, amounted to US$10.98 billion.
“The net short forward positions amounted to US$29.3 billion at the end of January 2025, reflecting the management of ringgit liquidity in the money market,” BNM said in a statement on the detailed disclosure of international reserves today.
In line with the practice adopted since April 2006, BNM said the data excludes projected foreign currency inflows arising from interest income and the drawdown of project loans.
It said projected foreign currency inflows amount to US$2.45 billion for 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, at US$419.1 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.
“BNM also does not engage in foreign currency options vis-a-vis the ringgit,” said the central bank.
In accordance with the International Monetary Fund Special Data Dissemination Standard (IMF SDDS) format, the detailed breakdown of international reserves provides forward-looking information on the size, composition and usability of reserves and other foreign currency assets and the expected and potential future inflows and outflows of foreign exchange of the federal government and BNM over the next 12-month period.
“Overall, the detailed breakdown of international reserves under the IMF SDDS format indicates that, as of the end of January 2025, Malaysia’s international reserves remain usable,” it added.
— Bernama
