Archived - Official International Reserves - September 3, 2021

- All 2021 Official International Reserves -

The Department of Finance Canada announced today that Canada's official international reserves increased by an amount equivalent to US$16,340 million during August to US$106,539 million. This was driven by reserves management funding operations (US$1,620 million)^{Footnote 1} a net loss in investments (-US$329 million)^{Footnote 2}, and other transactions (US$15,049)^{Footnote 6}.

Details on the level and composition of Canada's reserves as of August 31, 2021, as well as the major factors underlying the change in reserves, are provided below. All figures are in millions of US dollars unless otherwise noted.

Table 1
**Foreign currency reserves**
	Amount Millions of US dollars
Securities	70,240
Deposits	7,721
Total securities and deposits (liquid reserves):	77,961
Gold	0
Special drawing rights (SDRs)	24,091
Reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF)	4,487
Total:
August 31, 2021	106,539
July 30, 2021	90,199
Net change:	16,340

Table 2
**Details on deposits**
	Amount Millions of US dollars
Other central banks/Bank for International Settlements	7,721
Banks headquartered in Canada	0
Of which: located abroad	0
Banks headquartered abroad	0
Of which: located in Canada	0
Total:	7,721

Table 3
**Details of net change**
	Amount Millions of US dollars
Reserves management operations^{Footnote 1}	1,620
Gains and losses on gold sales	0
Net investment gains and losses:
Return on investments^{Footnote 3}	-130
Foreign currency debt charges	-14
Revaluation effects^{Footnote 4}	-185
Net government operations^{Footnote 5}	0
Official intervention	0
Other transactions^{Footnote 6}	15,049
Net change:	16,340

Table 4
**Currency composition of deposits and securities**
	Amount Millions of US dollars
US dollar	52,526
Euro	13,741
Pound sterling	6,725
Yen	4,969
Total:	77,961

Table 5
**Predetermined short-term drains on foreign currency reserves (nominal value)**
Millions of US dollars
	0 to 1 month	1 to 3 months	3 to 12 months	Total
Foreign currency securities:^{Footnote 7}
Principal	-1,057	-4,629	-8,106	-13,791
Interest	-56	-175	-488	-719
Aggregate short forward positions in foreign currencies vis-à-vis Canadian dollar	0	0	0	0
Aggregate long forward positions in foreign currencies vis-à-vis Canadian dollar	0	0	0	0
Total net drains:	-1,112	-4,804	-8,594	-14,510

Table 6
**Additional information (nominal value)**
	Amount Millions of US dollars
Undrawn, unconditional credit lines with banks headquartered outside Canada	0
Securities lent under repurchase agreements^{Footnote 8}	0
Securities held under repurchase agreements^{Footnote 9}	5,290
Financial derivatives assets (net, marked to market):
Forwards	-18
Swaps	-753

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Net change in securities and deposits resulting from foreign currency funding activities of the government. Foreign reserves are managed under an asset-liability matching framework. Therefore, when a foreign currency liability matures, assets are used to repay the principal, leading to a decrease in reserves. During August, Canada bills increased by US$588 million to a level of outstanding bills of US$4,518 million. An equivalent of US$1,082 million in cross-currency swaps was raised and US$50 million in medium-term notes matured during the month.

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Footnote 2

Net investment gains and losses include return on investments, foreign currency debt charges and revaluation effects.

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Footnote 3

"Return on investments" comprises US$61 million of interest earned on investments and a US$191 million decrease in the market value of securities.

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Footnote 4

"Revaluation effects" reflect changes in the market value of reserve assets resulting from movements in exchange rates. In August, the revaluation effect was mainly due to the depreciation of the euro and the pound sterling.

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Footnote 5

"Net government operations" are the net purchases of foreign currency for government foreign exchange requirements and for additions to reserves.

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Footnote 6

"Other transactions" includes the distribution of SDRs allocated to Canada by the IMF on August 23.

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Footnote 7

"Foreign currency securities" include maturities of foreign currency debt, cross-currency swap payments and an estimate of interest payments on foreign currency liabilities.

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Footnote 8

"Securities lent under repurchase agreements" are included in total reserves. Collateral provided in securities lending transactions is not included in total reserves.

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Footnote 9

Cash invested under repurchase agreements is included in total reserves. Collateral provided in securities lending transactions is not included in total reserves.

Return to footnote 9 referrer

Table 7
**Official international reserves (10-year synopsis)**
Millions of US dollars
Date	US dollars	Other currencies	Gold	SDRs	IMF position	Total
August 31, 2021	52,526	25,435	0	24,091	4,487	106,539
July 30, 2021	51,555	25,458	0	8,685	4,501	90,199
June 30, 2021	50,835	25,103	0	8,670	4,445	89,053
May 31, 2021	50,458	25,591	0	8,774	4,382	89,205
April 30, 2021	45,429	25,580	0	8,739	4,489	84,237
March 31, 2021	44,708	25,545	0	8,625	4,497	83,375
February 26, 2021	46,707	26,210	0	8,760	4,648	86,325
January 29, 2021	49,007	26,666	0	8,781	4,653	89,107
December 31, 2020	49,236	27,584	0	8,886	4,722	90,428
November 30, 2020	51,179	27,301	0	8,859	4,403	91,742
October 30, 2020	51,276	26,506	0	8,744	4,346	90,872
September 30, 2020	51,347	25,969	0	8,719	4,122	90,157
August 31, 2020	51,001	25,908	0	8,803	4,183	89,895

December 31, 2020	49,236	27,584	0	8,886	4,722	90,428
December 31, 2019	48,646	24,967	0	8,527	3,157	85,297
December 31, 2018	49,090	24,189	0	7,941	2,706	83,926
December 29, 2017	51,343	25,308	0	7,975	1,999	86,625
December 30, 2016	52,496	20,453	0	7,578	2,191	82,718
December 31, 2015	48,229	20,848	58	7,899	2,719	79,753
December 31, 2014	43,756	19,000	116	8,164	3,664	74,700
December 31, 2013	39,514	18,916	115	8,675	4,717	71,937
December 31, 2012	35,622	19,621	181	8,754	4,368	68,546
December 30, 2011	32,826	19,985	167	8,966	3,875	65,819
December 31, 2010	26,677	18,211	153	9,054	3,056	57,151

Future release dates

The next release is October 5, 2021 (covering the period of September 2021).

For further information on the Exchange Fund Account, please consult the Report on the Management of Canada's Official International Reserves—April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020.

Contacts

For further information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Department of Finance Canada
mediare@fin.gc.ca
613-369-4000

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Date modified:: 2023-08-25

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Archived - Official International Reserves - September 3, 2021

Future release dates

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