National Bank of Ethiopia Releases Results of Foreign Exchange Auction No. 18

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has announced the results of Foreign Exchange Auction No. 18, conducted on 17 February 2026 in Addis Ababa, as part of its ongoing bi-weekly foreign exchange auction program.

According to the announcement, the central bank allotted a total of USD 70 million, while the total bid amount reached USD 145.31 million, indicating strong demand from the banking sector. A total of 31 banks participated in the auction, of which 21 banks were successful.

The marginal (cut-off) exchange rate was set at 155.1200 Birr per USD, with the weighted average rate of successful bids recorded at 155.1223 Birr per USD. The highest accepted bid stood at 155.1299 Birr per USD, while the lowest bid was 155.1010 Birr per USD.

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) confirmed its dedication to a regular and transparent foreign exchange (FX) auction system, announcing that the next auction will proceed as previously scheduled. This mechanism is intended to help maintain price stability and alleviate pressure on the external sector.

This development continues to be closely watched by Ethiopia’s banking sector, as FX auctions remain a key instrument in addressing foreign exchange demand and market stability.