Libya's Central Bank has released details of the country's revenues and expenditures, as well as foreign currency usage, for the first nine months of 2026. The bank reported a total expenditure of 88.62 billion dinars, while revenues from oil and royalties amounted to approximately 17.6 billion dollars. The bank also stated that foreign currency usage exceeded revenues by around 4.7 billion dollars.
According to the Central Bank, oil revenues and royalties totaled 17.62 billion dollars from January to September, with 2.104 billion dollars from oil sales in September and 324.3 million dollars from royalties. The September revenues showed an increase compared to August, which recorded 1.953 billion dollars, while May had the highest revenues at 3.197 billion dollars. The oil revenues for the period were approximately 114.5 billion dinars.
The Central Bank revealed that total foreign currency usage was 22.3 billion dollars in the first nine months, compared to 17.6 billion dollars in oil and royalty revenues, resulting in a deficit of around 4.7 billion dollars. This deficit was covered by returns on the bank's investments, while foreign assets declined to 95 billion dollars by the end of September, down from 99.4 billion dollars at the end of 2025.
Commercial banks' foreign currency usage was 19.3 billion dollars, divided into 10.1 billion dollars for documentary credits, 6.5 billion dollars for personal purposes, 2.6 billion dollars for transfers, and 39 million dollars for small traders' cards. The documentary credits showed an increase compared to the previous period, when they stood at around 9 billion dollars.
The Central Bank announced that total public expenditure for the first nine months of 2026 was 88.62 billion dinars. The expenditure was distributed across various sectors, including 60.64 billion dinars for salaries, 14.30 billion dinars for subsidies, 12.06 billion dinars for operating expenses, and 1.60 billion dinars for development expenditures.
The Ministry of Finance and its affiliated bodies had the highest expenditure at 22.74 billion dinars, followed by the Ministry of Social Affairs with 15.27 billion dinars, and the Ministry of Defense with 8.53 billion dinars. Other ministries, such as the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Health, also had significant expenditures.
The Central Bank's report also showed that the country's foreign exchange reserves were under pressure, with the deficit in foreign currency usage indicating a strain on the country's financial resources. The bank's data also revealed that some entities, such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice, had significant expenditures, while others, like the National Oil Corporation, had substantial foreign currency usage.
Key points
- Libya's central bank reports a total expenditure of 88.62 billion dinars and a $4.7 billion deficit in the first 9 months of 2026.
- The country's foreign exchange reserves declined to 95 billion dollars by the end of September, down from 99.4 billion dollars at the end of 2025.
- The Ministry of Finance and its affiliated bodies had the highest expenditure at 22.74 billion dinars.
