UPDATE - Türkiye runs current account deficit of $2.5B in January

UPDATES WITH TREASURY AND FINANCE MINISTER'S COMMENT; REVISES SPOT

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye's current account balance posted a deficit of $2.55 billion in January, Türkiye's Central Bank announced on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the gold- and energy-excluded current account balance saw a net surplus of $3.59 billion in the month, the bank underlined.

The gold deficit was $4.45 billion in January, while the services saw a net surplus of $2.79 billion.

The travel item, under services, posted a net inflow of $2.19 billion in January.

"Primary income and secondary income recorded a net outflow of USD 856 million and USD 44 million, respectively," the bank said.

The direct investments saw a net inflow of $661 million in January, the bank added.

Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said improvement in annual current account deficit reached $22.6 billion in January compared to May.

With the continued decline in the foreign trade deficit in February, the current account deficit to GDP ratio will fall below 3% by the end of the first quarter, he noted on X.

The country expects to end the year with a current account deficit ratio lower than its 3.1% target and close to the sustainable current account deficit level, he said.

This performance will strengthen macro-financial stability and contribute further to the disinflation process, he added.