EAEU Reaches 93.5% of Intra‑Bloc Trade Using National Currencies, Bank Chief Says

Minsk, Oct. 30 – Roman Golovchenko, chairman of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus, announced that payments in national currencies for exports and imports within the Eurasian Economic Union now account for 93.5% of intra‑bloc trade, a figure presented at the meeting of the advisory council on currency policy of the EAEU’s central banks.

In a discussion of the bloc’s economic situation, members reviewed monetary policy and measures to curb unauthorized payments while examining the potential role of central‑bank digital currencies and virtual assets within the union.

"The shift is being driven by market mechanisms, with businesses favoring reliable and predictable payment instruments without administrative coercion, the banker said, adding that expanding settlements in national currencies helps reduce transaction costs and currency risks for the bloc," said Golovchenko.

Golovchenko explained that the move reflects a market preference for stable, locally issued instruments that lower transaction costs and risk exposure for firms trading across the five EAEU member states—Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia—established in 2015.

Confirmed facts: 93.5% share of intra‑bloc payments in national currencies; Roman Golovchenko’s statement at the advisory council meeting in Minsk; EAEU’s composition and establishment date; discussion topics including economic conditions, anti‑fraud measures, and digital‑currency policy.

Unconfirmed elements: The link initially provided for the report returned a “404 Not Found” error; no additional independent verification of the 93.5% figure is available beyond the statement by Golovchenko.