PRESS RELEASE
Published April 4, 2023
According to a report by the Beijing Times, on Friday, the Central Bank of Brazil announced that the Chinese yuan, also known as the renminbi, has overtaken the euro to become the country’s second-largest international reserve currency. The report reflects the deepening economic ties between Brazil and China, its largest trading partner.
As of the end of 2022, the proportion of the yuan in Brazil’s international exchange reserves had reached 5.37%, exceeding the euro’s 4.74%. The yuan became one of Brazil’s international exchange reserve currencies in 2019. However, the US dollar still dominates Brazil’s foreign exchange reserves, accounting for 80.42%.
The increasing use of the yuan in international trade and investment has contributed to its rise as a reserve currency. The yuan’s growing internationalization is also part of China’s broader efforts to promote the currency’s global role and reduce reliance on the US dollar.
Brazil and China have strengthened economic ties in recent years, with China becoming Brazil’s largest trading partner in 2009. The two countries have also signed agreements to increase cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, energy, and technology. The yuan’s rising share of Brazil’s international exchange reserves reflects the growing importance of the China-Brazil economic relationship.
The Central Bank of Brazil’s report highlights the importance of diversifying international reserves to mitigate risks. The yuan’s increasing popularity as a reserve currency provides Brazil with an opportunity to further diversify its international reserves and reduce its dependence on the US dollar.
The rise of the yuan as an international reserve currency is part of a larger trend of increasing currency diversification by central banks worldwide. The Beijing Times report underscores the importance of this trend and the growing importance of China as a key economic partner for Brazil.
In recent years, central banks worldwide have sought to reduce their reliance on the US dollar by increasing their holdings of other currencies, including the euro, the yen, and now the yuan. This trend reflects concerns over the US dollar’s long-term strength and stability, as well as the desire to diversify risks across a range of currencies. The yuan’s growing use in international trade and investment has helped to boost its appeal as a reserve currency. As China’s influence on the global economy continues to grow, so too will the appeal of the yuan as an international reserve currency.
The Central Bank of Brazil’s report also acknowledges that Brazil’s total international reserves decreased from $362.2 billion in 2021 to $324.7 billion in 2022 due to losses in portfolio returns amid US Federal Reserve rate hikes and dollar appreciation. Diversification of international reserves can help reduce the risks of exposure to any one currency, and the yuan’s increasing popularity as a reserve currency provides Brazil with an opportunity to further diversify its international reserves.
The Beijing Times report also highlights the importance of the China-Brazil economic relationship, with China becoming Brazil’s largest trading partner in 2009. In recent years, the two countries have signed agreements to boost cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and technology. The yuan’s increasing share of Brazil’s international exchange reserves reflects the growing importance of this partnership and the potential for China to play an even larger role in Brazil’s economy.
The rise of the yuan as an international reserve currency could also have broader implications for the global economy. The US dollar has long been the dominant international reserve currency, accounting for around two-thirds of global reserves. However, as central banks around the world continue to diversify their holdings, the dollar’s share of international reserves may decline. This could have a range of economic and geopolitical implications, including a potential shift in the balance of power away from the US and towards other major economies, such as China. Additionally, the growing use of the yuan as a reserve currency could provide China with greater influence over global financial markets and the ability to shape economic policy on a global scale.
The rise of the yuan as a reserve currency also reflects China’s broader ambitions to increase its economic and political influence on the world stage. China has made significant investments in infrastructure and technology in developing countries, and its Belt and Road Initiative aims to increase connectivity and economic cooperation across Asia, Africa, and Europe. The growing use of the yuan as a reserve currency could provide China with additional leverage in these initiatives and help to further solidify its position as a global economic power.
In conclusion, the Beijing Times report on the yuan’s rising share of Brazil’s international exchange reserves highlights the deepening economic ties between China and Brazil, the trend towards currency diversification, and the potential implications for the global economy. As the yuan continues to gain acceptance on the global stage, it is likely to become an even more important reserve currency, offering central banks around the world a viable alternative to the US dollar. This trend reflects a broader shift in the global economy towards greater multipolarity, with China playing an increasingly important role in shaping the economic and geopolitical landscape.
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