SLOVAKIA’S gross external debt ended last year at $82.311 billion (USD). Compared to
November last year, it fell by only $2.944 billion, mainly due to the lower external liabilities of the central bank, the SITA newswire reported, citing the figures released by the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) on March 31.
In an annual comparison, however, this result still meant an increase of the external debt of Slovak entities by $11.387 billion, when at the end of 2012; the external debt was less than $71 billion.
In monthly terms the already mentioned foreign liabilities of the central bank fell the most. They were lower than in November by $4.844 billion and amounted to $8.786 billion in December.
Also, the foreign liabilities of commercial banks decreased by $478.2 million to $6.661 billion, along with the debt from intercompany lending related to direct investments, by $433.5 million to $17.863 billion.
On the other hand, the external debt of other monitored sectors increased by $2.408 billion to $14.934 billion and also the government's external debt by $403.1 million to $34.066 billion.
In annual terms, the external debt increased in almost all reported groups. External liabilities of the government grew most significantly compared to December 2012 by $7.837 billion and other sectors by $4.164 billion. External liabilities were also higher than last year for commercial banks by $1.73 billion and in intercompany lending in direct investments by $1.621 billion. The only item that decreased was foreign liabilities of the central bank, which fell by $3.964 billion in annual terms.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
