Kazakhstanis change currency preferences from dollar to euro

    Demand for euro is growing in Kazakhstan, according to findings of an analysis conducted by Ranking.kz, Kazpravda.kz reports.
    In April, the sale of foreign currency in Kazakhstan by foreign exchange offices declined. Thus, the sale of dollars declined over the month by 25.6%, to 562.5 million dollars, of euro - by 0.5%, to 106.8 million euros, and of rubles - by 4.0%, to 11.4 billion rubles. However, compared with April last year, sales increased in all the currencies: dollars - by 8.5%, euros - by 81.7% and rubles - by 6.9%.
    In the 4 months since this year start, the population of Kazakhstan has bought in the exchangers 386.2 million euros, which is 70.4% more than a year ago; ruble was sold by 5.3% more than in January-April 2016 and its sale totaled 44.8 billion roubles. 2.7 billion dollars were sold, which is only 0.7% more compared to January-April 2016.
    In April, Almaty led in the bought dollars with 276.5 million dollars (24.1% less than in the previous month and 8.5% more compared to April 2016).
    Next comes Astana with 67.3 million dollars, which is 22.2% less than in March and 24.3% less than in April last year.
    In April 2017, these 2 megalopolises accounted for 61.1% of US dollars purchases fr om the RK exchange offices.
    The South Kazakhstan region is in the third place, where the population bought $ 38.5 million, decline for the month amounted to 38.9%. In comparison with April 2016, the growth is 51.2%. The share from the RK is 6.8%.
    In buying of the euro, residents of Almaty and Astana lead too, which accounted for 61.6% of euro purchases in April in exchange offices of Kazakhstan: 44.1 million euros were purchased in Almaty, which is 9.4% less than in March 2017 and 47.1% more than in April 2016; in Astana - 21.7 million euros, growth for the month - by 16.4%, for the year by 97.0%.
    The South Kazakhstan region closes the top troika, wh ere the population bought 7.5 million euros, and the growth is 18.5% less than in March and 2.5 times more than in April last year. The share from the RK is 7.1%.
    The purchase of Russian roubles by the population in the exchange offices of Kazakhstan is more evenly distributed in the regions. The leading are Almaty, the East Kazakhstan region and Astana which together account for 39.2% of purchases at exchange desks.
    In the purchase of roubles in April 2017, Almaty residents are leading with 1.92 billion roubles, growth for the month made 17.4%, for the year 3.7%.
    Next comes the East Kazakhstan region -wit 1.29 billion roubles, 3.4% less than last month and 19.3% more than last year.
    Astana closes the top three with 1.27 billion roubles. Sales in the exchangers for the month went 12.2% up and 17.3% down compared to April last year.
    Reported by the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda.