Capital outflow from Russia could have topped $50 bln in Feb-March, as much as in whole of 2020 - experts

MOSCOW. April 12 (Interfax) - Capital outflow from Russia could have amounted to $51.4 billion in February-March, according to estimates published by the Central Bank.

The regulator said on April 11 that capital outflow was an estimated $64.2 billion in Q1 2022. It said two months ago that $12.8 billion had flowed out of the country in January. It did not publish an estimate for January-February.

Experts at Interfax calculate that outflow for the past two months might have been on a par with the $50.3 billion that left Russia in the whole of 2020. Outflow was 44% higher at $72.6 billion in 2021.

Capital outflow was a record $152.1 billion in 2014, the fourth quarter of which accounted for $75.8 billion of that.

The biggest quarterly figure on record is $133.6 billion in Q4 2008.

The Central Bank said in its updated baseline scenario in February that capital outflow could be $75 billion for the whole of 2022, assuming Urals crude trades at $70/bbl.