In January the Argentine debt increased again: each inhabitant owes about 7,300 dollars

Ismael Bermudez

02/16/2020 - 15:35

• Clarín.com
• Economy

In January, gross domestic and foreign public debt, in pesos and in foreign currency, increased by $ 1,272 million . It grew from US $ 323,177 million as of December 31 to US $ 324,449 million as of January 31, according to data from the Ministry of Finance. If it is divided by the nearly 44.5 million inhabitants the country has, each owes a figure close to $ 7,300.

What happened last month is that the Government took new debt in pesos and dollars for the equivalent of US $ 3,908 million, including US $ 1,268 million of the Letter placed in the BCRA, and canceled maturities in domestic and foreign currency for US $ 2,805 million. In addition, there was an increase of US $ 170 million for "adjustments."

77.54% of the debt is incurred in foreign currency and 22.46% in pesos.

On the other hand, interest payments during January totaled US $ 1,727 million , of which US $ 1,187 million were made in foreign currency, according to the report of the Budget Office of the National Congress (OPC).

The Report details that in January, the FGS (Sustainability Guarantee Fund) of the ANSeS signed Treasury Bills for $ 6,080 million, of which $ 2,000 million expire in May and $ 4,080 million in December 2020.

Last month the Treasury placed Letters in the Central Bank for US $ 1,268 million due in 2029 and Temporary Advances for $ 25,300 million were renewed. $ 24,528 million were also issued in Treasury Bills with maturity this year.

The OPC Report adds that “the maturity profile of debt services (capital and interest) between February and December 2020 totals US $ 66,760 million . By excluding maturities within the public sector, the estimated services are reduced to US $ 34,463 million. ”

In March, there are maturities for $ 381,997 million and interest for $ 40,936 million. This includes a maturity with the FGS of the ANSeS (March 13) for $ 35,000 million and temporary advances with the BCRA for $ 60,500 million.