Russia's Q1 foreign-debt payments halved to $26 bln from Q4
MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - While first-quarter payments on Russia's foreign debts in the national and foreign currencies are expected to be more than $25.6 billion, that would be more than half less than what Russia paid in Q4 2009 (over $53.8 billion).
The payment schedule for foreign debt and interest was published on the Central Bank website on October 1. The largest payments in Q1 fall in May - $11.3 billion ($6.5 in January, $7.8 billion in February).
The schedule envisions Q1 payments on debt principal $20.3 billion and debt interest $5.3 billion (respectively $48.4 billion and $5.4 billion in Q4 2009).
Total immediate debt stood at $22.4 billion on October 1, the payment schedule for debt in the amount of $21.8 billion was not defined, there was no schedule for debt in the amount of $18.2 billion (this division includes past-due debts, preferred shares held by non-residents, and other unscheduled debt servicing).
The banking sector is scheduled to pay $8.3 billion in Q1 ($6.9 billion in principal, $1.4 billion in interest).
Enterprises in other economic sectors are to pay creditors $15.6 billion in Q1 ($12.5 billion in principal, $3.1 billion in interest).
Russia's aggregate foreign debt was estimated at $478.2 billion as of October 1, 2009.