Libya’s Central Bank assets rise to $98.4bn

Sources close to the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) have confirmed that the Bank’s foreign assets, including foreign currency reserves, increased by approximately $3 billion between the start of 2025 and the end of September.

By late September, the Bank’s total foreign assets stood at $98.4 billion, compared with $95.3 billion at the end of 2024. The sources emphasised that no part of the Central Bank’s official reserves had been used during this period, describing the overall position of external balances as “comfortable”. A forthcoming periodic statement from the Bank is expected to provide further details on the performance of foreign balances.

Foreign currency deficit of $5.9 billion

According to CBL data, foreign currency revenues up to the end of August reached $15.8 billion, while outflows amounted to $21.7 billion, leaving a deficit of about $5.9 billion.

The Bank explained that the shortfall was covered through returns on its investments in deposits and gold, as well as $400 million withdrawn from reserves. Despite this, the CBL confirmed that its total foreign assets had still increased to $97.3 billion by the end of August, compared with $95.3 billion at the close of 2024.