Balance of Payments in Q2 2022

Alexandra V. Bozhechkova – Head of Monetary Policy Department of the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy; Senior Researcher of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Candidate of Economic Sciences (Moscow, Russia). Е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alexander Yu. Knobel – Head of Foreign Trade Department of the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy; Director of Center for Foreign Trade Department of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration; Director of the Institute for International Economics and Finance, Russian Foreign Trade Academy, Candidate of Economic Sciences (Moscow, Russia). Е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pavel V. Trunin – Head of Center for Macroeconomics and Finance of the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy; Director of Center for Сentral Banks Studies of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Doctor of Economic Sciences (Moscow, Russia). Е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As of Q2-end 2022, the current account surplus went up 4.1-fold compared to the same period of the last year on the back of growth in the value of Russian exports amid high prices for commodities and reduction of imports under the sanctions. The deficit of the financial account of the balance of payments, including reserve assets, was formed resulting from the growth of foreign financial assets with a decrease of foreign liabilities. A significant role in the stabilization of the balance of payments and the foreign exchange market was played by strict capital flow restrictions put in place in Q1 2022, which were eased in Q2 2022 due to the rapid strengthening of the ruble to the level of H1 2015.

Key words: balance of payment, exports, imports, current account, ruble exchange rate, outflow/inflow of capital, Bank of Russia.

JEL-codes: E58, E44, F32, F21, F31.