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IMF Presses Argentina to Accelerate Reserve Build as Markets See Waiver Likely

The IMF urges faster reserve accumulation, calling it premature to assume the U.S. swap will secure the targets.

Overview

  • IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said accelerating dollar purchases is necessary and that it is too early to conclude the U.S. Treasury swap guarantees compliance with reserve goals.
  • Luis Caputo defended the exchange-rate band system, pledged to buy reserves “intelligently,” and highlighted short‑term financing options to meet maturities without drawing on the Central Bank.
  • Brokers and analysts widely expect Argentina to miss the December reserve target and seek another waiver, with private estimates putting the gap near US$9.35 billion for year‑end and about US$13.55 billion by mid‑2026.
  • U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed only a small portion of the US$20 billion swap was used; local reporting points to roughly US$2.7 billion tapped to steady the currency and about US$2.0 billion later unwound.
  • Upcoming obligations remain sizable, with roughly US$1.2 billion due before year‑end and about US$4.3 billion in January, prompting talk of bank repos, market issuance, rollovers, or activating additional swap tranches.