Commercial Bank of Ethiopia has disbursed more than $1 billion in foreign currency, reinforcing its central role in supporting trade and essential service payments in a fragile market.

Since July 1, 2025, the bank has approved a total of $1.034 billion in foreign currency for commercial and service-related payments, including fuel, utilities, and other critical obligations. These allocations are in addition to the bank’s routine daily provision of foreign exchange to clients.

On August 16, 2025, the bank approved $420.4 million in foreign currency alone, fulfilling all client requests submitted that day. The allocations, offered at competitive rates, spanned multiple types of foreign exchange to cover a wide range of commercial and service-related obligations.

The bank said that during two weeks starting August 1, 2025, it processed requests from 1,140 clients, distributing $541.4 million at competitive rates across multiple types of foreign currency transactions. The allocations aimed to meet both urgent and strategic client needs while balancing national priorities.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia officials emphasized that the institution continues to maintain a strategic approach, coordinating currency provision with broader economic objectives. By offering timely and targeted allocations, the bank seeks to mitigate currency shortages that could affect importers and service providers, while also ensuring that domestic demand for foreign currency is met efficiently.