Demand for foreign currency in Ethiopia has continued to rise, with commercial banks submitting bids worth USD 156.73 million in the latest foreign exchange auction conducted by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE).
According to the results announced by the central bank, Foreign Exchange Auction No. 32 was held on November 10, 2026, with an allocated amount of USD 140 million. The total bids submitted by participating commercial banks reached USD 156.73 million, exceeding the available allocation by USD 16.73 million.
The latest auction attracted 31 commercial banks, 26 of which were successful in securing foreign currency. The marginal exchange rate—also known as the cut-off rate—was set at 159.1876 Ethiopian Birr per US dollar, while the weighted average rate of successful bids stood at 159.7091 Birr per dollar.
The outcome marks a continuation of the excess-demand pattern seen in previous auctions. In Auction No. 30, held on October 13, 2026, the central bank allocated USD 140 million while total bids reached USD 152.09 million, with a marginal rate of 158.1724 Birr per dollar.
