Russia’s Finance Minister calls trade balance main factor in ruble weakening
Anton Siluanov also noted the rise of demand for foreign currency due to a vacation season
MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. The recent devaluation of the ruble is mostly attributable to the country's trade balance, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in an interview with TASS.
"The ruble's depreciation is primarily caused by the trade balance, or the inflows and outflows of currency into and out of the country. Furthermore, summer is a vacation season, and when people travel overseas, the demand for foreign currency rises," Siluanov explained.
At the same time, Governor of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina stated at a press conference on July 21 following a meeting of the regulator's board of directors that, according to the regulator, the main factor in the ruble's exchange rate in June and July was a decline in exports with increased imports.