According to the statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the proportion of international business in the local banking sector retreated in the third quarter of 2023. At end-September 2023, the share of international assets in total banking assets decreased to 84.0% from 84.7% at end-June 2023, while the share of international liabilities in total banking liabilities fell to 81.8% from 82.5%.

Non-local currencies continued to be the dominant denomination in international banking transactions. At end-September 2023, the shares of the pataca in total international assets and total international liabilities were 1.0% and 0.7% respectively. The Hong Kong dollar, the US dollar, the renminbi and other foreign currencies accounted for 32.9%, 43.5%, 18.7% and 3.8% of total international assets while their respective shares in total international liabilities were 36.8%, 36.6%, 22.6% and 3.4%.

International Banking Assets

At end-September 2023, total international assets decreased by 4.0% from a quarter ago to MOP2,040.4 billion (USD253.0 billion). Within this total, external assets fell by 4.3% from the previous quarter to MOP1,480.5 billion while local assets in foreign currencies dropped by 3.2% to MOP559.8 billion. As a major component of international assets, external nonbank loans decreased by 7.7% to MOP575.9 billion.

International Banking

Liabilities Total international liabilities decreased by 3.9% from three months ago to MOP1,988.4 billion (USD246.5 billion). Of this total, external liabilities and local liabilities in foreign currencies dropped quarter-to-quarter by 6.8% to MOP1,080.6 billion and 0.3% to MOP907.8 billion respectively. Foreign currency deposits held by residents and the MSAR government in local banks constituted a major component of international liabilities. This type of deposits amounted to MOP675.8 billion at end-September 2023, which remained virtually stable from a quarter ago.

Breakdown of External Banking Assets and Liabilities by Region

The majority of external assets and liabilities of the local banking sector were related to Asia. At end-September 2023, claims on Mainland China and Hong Kong occupied 36.0% and 29.2% of total external assets. Meanwhile, claims on Portuguese-speaking countries and Belt and Road Initiative countries occupied respective shares of 0.8% and 12.2%. On external liabilities, Hong Kong and Mainland China accounted for 46.5% and 37.3% of the total respectively. Portuguese-speaking countries and Belt and Road Initiative countries represented 0.3% and 5.7% respectively.

The compilation of International Banking Statistics mainly follows the methodology advocated by the Bank for International Settlements in order to facilitate Macao SAR's participation in the “Locational International Banking Statistics” project of the international organisation.