Ethiopia’s weighted average exchange rate for successful bids in the foreign exchange auction fell to 159.70 birr per US dollar in the latest round conducted by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), down from 160.10 birr in the previous auction held two weeks earlier.
The 31st foreign exchange auction, conducted on October 27, 2026, attracted bids totaling USD 150.83 million against the USD 140 million allocated by the central bank, leaving demand USD 10.83 million above the available supply.
According to the NBE’s announcement, the latest weighted average rate declined by 0.4058 birr per dollar compared with the October 13 auction. The movement indicates a change in the rates offered by banks that successfully secured foreign currency, although the results alone do not establish a broader trend in the foreign exchange market.
The marginal exchange rate, also known as the cut-off rate, stood at 158.18 birr per dollar, slightly higher than the 158.17 birr recorded in the previous auction. The highest bid rate reached 160.99 birr per dollar, compared with 160.98 birr in the previous round.
The lowest bid rate increased from 153 birr per dollar in the October 13 auction to 158.18 birr in the latest round.
Participation also expanded, with 30 commercial banks submitting bids, compared with 29 in the previous auction. Of these, 28 banks secured foreign currency, up from 26 successful participants in the earlier round.
Despite the slight decline in total bids, demand continued to exceed the amount made available by the central bank. Total bids fell from USD 152.09 million in the previous auction to USD 150.83 million, a decrease of USD 1.26 million.
The NBE maintained its allocation at USD 140 million in both auctions, while the excess of bids over available foreign currency narrowed from USD 12.09 million to USD 10.83 million.
