Central Bank of China

PRESS RELEASE Release Date: June 6, 2003




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Overview of offshore banking units (April 2003)

At the end of April, 2003, there were 71 offshore banking units(OBUs)in operation. Of these, 42 belonged to domestic banks and 29 belonged to foreign banks. The combined assets of all OBUs amounted to US$53.034 billion at the end of April, 2003; increased by US$2.427 billion or 4.80%compared with the same month of the previous year. Domestic bank OBUs accounted for US$36.708 billion or 69%of these combined assets, and foreign bank OBUs accounted for US$16.326 billion or 31%of the total.

Based on the balance sheet analysis, the OBUs' main sources of funds were due to related offices and deposits by financial institutions that accounted for 66%of total liabilities. Of these, due to related offices accounted for 47%of total liabilities, deposits by financial institutions situated locally for 12%, those by financial institutions located overseas for 4%and inter-OBU deposits for 3%. The other sources of funds included deposits by non-financial institutions accounting for 28%of total liabilities and other liabilities plus the equity of head office for 6%. In terms of the areas of origin, the main source of funds was Asia that accounted for 70%, followed by America with 20%, Europe with 7%and other areas with 3%.

The main uses of funds were due from related offices and deposits with financial institutions that accounted for 55%of total assets, of which 36%was due from related offices, 12%was deposited overseas, 4%with other domestic financial institutions and 3%with domestic OBUs. The other uses of funds included loans accounting for 28%of total assets, security investments for 13%and other assets for 4%. Asia was the main destination of funds accounting for 65%, followed by America with 23%, Europe with 10%and other areas with 2%.

The loans outstanding of all OBUs at the end of April, 2003, amounted to US$15.075 billion, of which 81%was extended to oversea debtors, and 19%to local debtors. Of this amount, long-term loans extended to oversea debtors accounted for US$7.649 billion, followed by short-term loans extended to oversea debtors with US$4.490 billion and loans extended to local debtors with US$2.936 billion. The export banking business volume of all OBUs in April was US$4.873 billion. Of this amount, export collection plus export remittance accounted for US$3.653 billion and export negotiation for US$1.22 billion.

The foreign exchange trading turnover of all OBUs in April was US$4.446 billion. Of this amount, spot transactions accounted for US$3.177 billion, followed by foreign exchange swaps with US$0.966 billion and outright forwards with US$0.303 billion.

The total trading turnover of the other new products of all OBUs in April was US$5.697 billion. Of this amount, options accounted for US$3.2 billion, followed by financial futures with US$1.774 billion, foreign currency interest rate swaps with US$0.5 billion, foreign currency forward rate agreements with US$0.13 billion, and margin account tradings with US$0.093 billion.