Statistics from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange show that in February 2026, banks settled RMB 1,433.8 billion in foreign exchange and sold RMB 1,136.2 billion in foreign exchange. From January to February 2026, the cumulative foreign exchange settlement by banks was 3,438.5 billion yuan, and the cumulative foreign exchange sales was 2,581.9 billion yuan.
In US dollar terms, in February 2026, banks settled US$206.4 billion in foreign exchange and sold US$163.6 billion in foreign exchange. From January to February 2026, the cumulative foreign exchange settlement by banks was US$492.7 billion, and the cumulative foreign exchange sales were US$370.1 billion.
In February 2026, banks’ foreign-related income on behalf of customers was 4,168.4 billion yuan, and external payments were 3,921.1 billion yuan. From January to February 2026, the cumulative foreign-related income of banks on behalf of customers was 9,640.6 billion yuan, and the cumulative external payments were 8,818.5 billion yuan.
In US dollars, in February 2026, banks’ foreign-related income on behalf of customers was US$600.1 billion, and external payments were US$564.5 billion. From January to February 2026, the cumulative foreign-related income of banks on behalf of customers was US$1,381.7 billion, and the cumulative external payments were US$1,264 billion.
Attached: Glossary of terms and related instructions
Bank foreign exchange settlement and sales refer to the foreign exchange settlement and sales business handled by banks for their customers and themselves, including forward foreign exchange settlement and sales performance and option exercise data, excluding inter-bank foreign exchange market transaction data. The statistical time point for bank foreign exchange settlement and sales is when the exchange of RMB and foreign exchange occurs. Among them, foreign exchange settlement means that foreign exchange owners sell foreign exchange to banks, and foreign exchange sales means that banks sell foreign exchange to foreign exchange users. The difference between foreign exchange settlement and sales is the netting amount between foreign exchange settlement and foreign exchange sales.
Forward foreign exchange settlement and sales signing refers to the negotiation between the bank and the customer to sign a forward foreign exchange settlement (foreign exchange sale) contract, agreeing on the foreign exchange currency, amount, exchange rate and term for future foreign exchange settlement (foreign exchange sales); when the due foreign exchange income (expenditure) occurs, the foreign exchange settlement (foreign exchange sale) will be handled in accordance with the currency, amount, and exchange rate specified in the forward foreign exchange settlement (foreign exchange sale) contract.
The liquidation of forward foreign exchange settlement and sales refers to the behavior of a customer who reverses the original transaction and closes part or all of the forward position due to changes in the real demand background and the inability to fulfill the fund delivery obligations.
The extension of forward foreign exchange settlement and sales refers to the behavior of customers to adjust the delivery time of the original transaction due to changes in the real demand background.
The accumulated undue balance of forward foreign exchange settlement and sales at the end of the current period refers to the balance of the forward foreign exchange settlement and foreign exchange sales contracts signed by the bank and its customers that have not yet expired at the end of the current period; the balance refers to the difference between the unexpired forward foreign exchange settlement and foreign exchange sales balances.
The net exposure of unexpired options Delta refers to the spot exchange rate risk exposure implied by the accumulated unexpired contracts of the option business handled by the bank at the end of the period.
Foreign-related receipts and payments by banks on behalf of customers refer to the receipts and payments between domestic non-bank resident institutions and individuals (collectively referred to as non-bank sectors) through domestic banks and non-resident institutions and individuals, excluding cash receipts and payments and banks' own foreign-related receipts and payments. Specifically, it includes: cross-border receipts and payments (including foreign exchange and RMB) between non-banking departments and non-residents through domestic banks, and domestic receipts and payments between non-banking departments and non-residents through domestic banks (temporarily excluding RMB receipts and payments between domestic resident individuals and institutions and domestic non-resident individuals). The statistical time point is when customers handle foreign-related receipts and payments at domestic banks. Among them, the foreign-related income of banks on behalf of customers refers to the money received by non-banking departments from non-residents through domestic banks, and the foreign expenditures of banks on behalf of customers refer to the money paid by non-banking departments to non-residents through domestic banks.
