KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s official reserve assets amounted to US$130.63 billion at the end of May 2026, compared with US$129.73 billion at the end of April 2026.
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said other foreign currency assets amounted to US$766.5 million.
The central bank said the pre-determined short-term outflows of foreign currency loans, securities and deposits for the next 12 months, which include, among others, the scheduled repayment of external borrowings by the government and the maturity of foreign currency Bank Negara Interbank Bills, amounted to US$6.65 billion.
"The net short forward positions amounted to US$24.67 billion as at the end of May 2026, reflecting the management of ringgit liquidity in the money market,” BNM said in a statement today.
BNM said, in line with the practice adopted since April 2006, the data excludes projected foreign currency inflows arising from interest income and the drawdown of project loans.
These projected foreign currency inflows amount to US$3.04 billion over the next 12 months.
Meanwhile, the only contingent short-term net drain on foreign currency assets is government guarantees of foreign currency debt due within one year, which amount to US$846.4 million.
"There are no foreign currency loans with embedded options, and no undrawn, unconditional credit lines provided by or to other central banks, international organisations, banks and other financial institutions.
"BNM also does not engage in foreign currency options vis-à-vis the ringgit,” the central bank said.
Overall, BNM said the detailed breakdown of international reserves under the International Monetary Fund Special Data Dissemination Standard format indicates that, as at the end of May 2026, Malaysia’s international reserves remain usable. - Bernama
