## IMF Releases Data on the Currency Composition of Foreign Exchange Reserves Including Holdings in Renminbi

_IMF News, March 31, 2017_

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**Canonical URL:** [IMF Releases Data on the Currency Composition of Foreign Exchange Reserves Including Holdings in Renminbi](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2017/03/31/pr17108-imf-releases-data-on-the-currency-composition-of-foreign-exchange-reserves)

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## Bibliographic details
- Published: March 31, 2017

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### Summary
- The IMF released quarterly COFER data for the quarter ending December 2016, with renminbi (RMB) holdings separately identified for the first time.
- With separate identification of reserves in RMB, eight currencies are now distinguished in COFER data: U.S. dollar; euro; Chinese renminbi; Japanese yen; pound sterling; Australian dollar; Canadian dollar; and Swiss franc. All other currencies are included and indistinguishable in the category “other currencies.”
- COFER data are reported voluntarily and confidentially by 146 reporters and are publicly disseminated in aggregate format on a quarterly frequency.

### COFER survey change and institutional context
- On February 26, 2016, the IMF Executive Board agreed to modify the COFER survey to allow separate identification of the RMB effective October 1, 2016.
- The modification followed the Board decision to include RMB in the Special Drawing Right (SDR) basket of currencies as a fifth currency effective October 1, 2016.
- COFER is managed by the IMF’s Statistics Department and contains end-of-period quarterly data of reporting countries/jurisdictions.

### Key statistics (World; US Dollars, Billions)
- Total Foreign Exchange reserves:
  - Q4 2015: 10,921.40
  - Q1 2016: 11,009.16
  - Q2 2016: 11,037.96
  - Q3 2016: 11,059.38
  - Q4 2016: 10,793.40
- Allocated Reserves1:
  - Q4 2015: 6,817.01
  - Q1 2016: 7,193.94
  - Q2 2016: 7,501.66
  - Q3 2016: 7,800.97
  - Q4 2016: 7,900.63
- Claims in U.S. dollars:
  - Q4 2015: 4,374.07
  - Q1 2016: 4,604.17
  - Q2 2016: 4,792.23
  - Q3 2016: 4,939.78
  - Q4 2016: 5,052.94
- Claims in euros:
  - Q4 2015: 1,345.06
  - Q1 2016: 1,449.19
  - Q2 2016: 1,493.88
  - Q3 2016: 1,577.68
  - Q4 2016: 1,559.26
- Claims in Chinese renminbi:
  - Q4 2016: 84.51
- Claims in Japanese yen:
  - Q4 2015: 274.77
  - Q1 2016: 280.74
  - Q2 2016: 325.99
  - Q3 2016: 346.77
  - Q4 2016: 332.77
- Claims in pounds sterling:
  - Q4 2015: 331.38
  - Q1 2016: 343.30
  - Q2 2016: 348.84
  - Q3 2016: 350.75
  - Q4 2016: 349.33
- Claims in Australian dollars:
  - Q4 2015: 131.00
  - Q1 2016: 133.67
  - Q2 2016: 136.97
  - Q3 2016: 150.22
  - Q4 2016: 146.12
- Claims in Canadian dollars:
  - Q4 2015: 127.65
  - Q1 2016: 136.29
  - Q2 2016: 143.52
  - Q3 2016: 155.80
  - Q4 2016: 160.83
- Claims in Swiss francs:
  - Q4 2015: 19.77
  - Q1 2016: 14.81
  - Q2 2016: 14.28
  - Q3 2016: 14.82
  - Q4 2016: 13.73
- Claims in other currencies:
  - Q4 2015: 213.32
  - Q1 2016: 231.76
  - Q2 2016: 245.95
  - Q3 2016: 265.15
  - Q4 2016: 201.15
- Unallocated Reserves:
  - Q4 2015: 4,104.39
  - Q1 2016: 3,815.22
  - Q2 2016: 3,536.29
  - Q3 2016: 3,258.41
  - Q4 2016: 2,892.77

### Background on reserves composition and reporting
- Foreign exchange reserves reported through COFER consist of the monetary authorities’ claims on nonresidents in the form of banknotes; bank deposits; treasury bills; other short- and long-term government securities; and other claims usable in the event of a balance of payments need.
- Ordering of the currencies follows SDR basket weights (SDR currencies) and alphabetical order (non-SDR currencies).

### Contact and communication
- IMF Communications Department, Media Relations
- Press Officer: Keiko Utsunomiya
- Phone: +1 202 623-7100
- Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

*Press Release No. 17/108 — March 31, 2017*

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## References

- [PRESS CENTER](http://presscenter.imf.org/)
- [website](http://www.imf.org/external/np/sta/cofer/eng/index.htm)
- [IMF Executive Board agreed to modify the COFER survey](http://www.imf.org/external/pp/longres.aspx?id=5020)
- [http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2016/pr1690.htm](http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2016/pr1690.htm)
- [http://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2015/09/14/01/49/pr15543](http://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2015/09/14/01/49/pr15543)
- [http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/sdr.htm](http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/sdr.htm)
- [http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/sdrcb.htm](http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/sdrcb.htm)
- [https://www.imf.org/en/home](https://www.imf.org/en/home)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2017/03/31/pr17108-imf-releases-data-on-the-currency-composition-of-foreign-exchange-reserves_