Net forex purchases by private individuals in Ukraine up nearly $1 bln in March 2026 - NBU

MOSCOW. April 13 (Interfax) - The volume of foreign currency purchased by private individuals in Ukraine in March 2026 exceeded sales by an equivalent of $0.97 billion, which is 86.5% more than in February 2026 and 50.7% more than in March 2025, Ukrainian media said citing National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) data.

Compared to February 2026, cash forex purchases increased by $757.1 million to $2.393 billion, while sales increased by $308.2 million to $1.425 billion, the NBU said.

Private individuals purchased $1.551 million worth of cash U.S. dollars in March, which is $497.4 million more than in February, while selling $1.069 billion worth of cash dollars, up $229.8 million.

Private individuals also purchased an amount of cash euros equivalent to $785.4 million in March 2026, which is $249.4 million more than in February 2026, and sold an equivalent of $303.4 million, down by $68.4 million.

As for bank clients' transactions with non-cash forex, they bought $10.523 billion in March 2026 (up by $2.103 billion from February 2026) and sold $7.531 billion (up $2.137 billion).

Interbank transactions also increased in March 2026 by $2.137 billion to $8.285 billion compared to February 2026.

Compared to March 2025, purchases of non-cash forex by bank clients increased by $2.177 billion, its sales increased by $569.2 million, and the volume of interbank transactions increased by $2.612 billion.

The official hryvnia-dollar exchange rate rose by nearly UAH 0.59 to UAH 43.80/$1 in March 2026 compared to February 2026, while hryvnia-euro rate decreased by nearly UAH 0.71 to UAH 50.31/euro.

The NBU's net forex interventions grew in March 2026 compared to February 2026 by $1.777 billion to $4.767 billion, which was more than $2.608 billion in March 2025.