External Sector Statistics

The NBU compiles external sector statistics that reflect Ukraine’s role in the international trade of goods, services, and capital. External sector statistics provide information about Ukraine’s relations with the rest of the world. These statistics are used for economic policy decisions.

NBU external sector data include: 

• The balance of payments, a statement that summarizes transactions between residents and non-residents during a period (year, quarter, month). Quarterly data on the balance of payments are published on the 75th - 80th day after the end of a reporting period. Data for previous periods may be revised to account for data updates, methodological revisions, and new sources of information. Annual data are considered final nine months after the end of a reporting period. Monthly data are published on between the 25th and 30th day after the end of a reporting period. Quarterly data are more detailed than monthly data. After quarterly data are published, monthly data are revised accordingly.

• Foreign direct investment is defined as cross-border investments in enterprises with the purpose of establishing control or sustainable influence on the activities of the enterprise, which is achieved through equity participation.  Foreign direct investment statistics includs flows, stocks and income data that occur between direct investment relationships parties. Quarterly data are published 85-90 days after the end of the reporting period, detailed regional data - 100-105 days after the end of the reporting period.

• The international investment position is a statement that shows the value  and composition of the financial assets of Ukrainian residents abroad and the value and composition of the financial assets of non-residents in Ukraine at the end of a quarter. International investment position data are published quarterly, on the 82th - 85th day after the end of a reporting period. The data can be revised for up to two years following the date of the first publication. A comment is added for each revision.

• Gross external debt is a statistical statement about a country’s external liabilities on a given date. The data on gross external debt is published quarterly, on the 75th -  80th day after the end of a reporting period. The data can be revised for up to five quarters after the date of the first publication. A comment is added for each revision.

• International reserves comprise the liquid financial assets available to a country for regulatory and other general economic purposes. The reserves are governed and controlled by monetary authorities and are recognized as international reserves by the global community.

• The exchange rate of the hryvnia is determined by the supply of and demand for foreign currency on the market. The NBU sets the official UAH/USD exchange rate by calculating the weighted average exchange rate on the basis of all currency purchases and sales conducted by banks over the course of a day. The central bank also sets the official hryvnia exchange rate against other foreign currencies that are widely used to settle international transactions. The NBU does not seek to maintain the exchange rate at a specific level.

The NBU compiles external sector data using the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (IMF, 2009) and External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users (IMF, 2013). The external sector data also meet the requirements of the Glossary of the System of National Accounts, the Government Finance Statistics Manual, and the Monetary and Financial Statistics Manual and Compilation Guide (IMF, 2016).