In Ukraine, the deficit of foreign trade in goods and services is growing, and, accordingly, the demand for foreign currency from bank customers in the interbank foreign exchange market is increasing.. This was stated by the former Chairman of the NBU Council Bohdan Danylyshyn.

According to Danylyshyn, under the influence of increased net demand for foreign currency from bank clients in the interbank foreign exchange market, the National Bank increased last week the net sale of foreign currency from reserves to balance the market to $778 million compared to $664 million a week earlier..

The predominance of demand for foreign currency is due to the expansion of the deficit in foreign trade in goods and services, which in 2022 amounted to about $24 billion (including about $4 billion in December). At the same time, the total current account surplus in 2022 at $8.6 billion was maintained thanks to the constant inflow of transfers from abroad (primarily for wages - $13.5 billion) and receipts of international financial assistance transfers (almost $26 billion).

At the same time, as Danylyshyn noted, the investment activity of international investors remains low..

Thus, in 2022, foreign direct investment inflows to Ukraine amounted to only $0.

6 billion and were provided by reinvested income of foreign investors ($655 million) and new direct investments in Ukrainian enterprises ($525 million), which made it possible to compensate for the reduction in the debt of Ukrainian enterprises to direct investors. non-residents (-$608 million).

Recall that from January 30 to February 3, 2023, the National Bank bought $5.05 million on the interbank foreign exchange market and sold $782.57 million. The negative balance of interventions amounted to $777.52 million.