Foreign Exchange Reserves in Recent Years

This analysis from Open Data Albania is focused on the dynamics of the foreign exchange reserves in Albania in the last 10 years. Reserves are funds in foreign currency, which are managed from the Central Bank of Albania, mainly to cover foreign exchange needs for the country and to support it in cases of crisis.

The main purpose of the reserves is:

(a) Support and maintain confidence in the policies for monetary and exchange rate management including the capacity to intervene in support of the national currency; (b) Limit external vulnerability by maintaining foreign currency liquidity to absorb shocks during times of crisis or when access to borrowing is curtailed and in doing so;  (c) Provide a level of confidence to markets that a country can meet its external obligations; (d) Demonstrate the backing of domestic currency by external assets; (dh) Assist the government in meeting its foreign exchange needs and external debt obligations;  (e) Maintain a reserve for national disasters or emergencies.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in million EUR



^{Source: Bank of Albania, statistical report   
Comment and analysis: ODA}

^{Source: Bank of Albania, statistical report   
Comment and analysis: ODA}

Reserves were 2,191.7 million EUR in 2014, compared to 1,204.2 million EUR in 2005, so an increase of 82%. The increase in the level of reserves has multiple factors, internal and external like: privatization, trade relationships, commercial bank required reserves for foreign exchange deposits, the income from the reserve investment, etc.