Russia’s Current-Account Surplus Jumps, Boosted by Energy Sales

  • Surplus widened to $16.6 billion in 3Q, beating all forecasts
  • Central bank sees recovery in exports adding to surplus

Rail wagons for oil, fuel and liquefied gas at the Yanichkino railway station in Moscow.

Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
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Russia’s current-account surplus unexpectedly rebounded in the third quarter to $16.6 billion as the central bank reported improving foreign trade including in energy sales.

The surplus, roughly the difference between exports and imports, recovered from a two-year low of $9.6 billion in the second quarter, preliminary data published Tuesday by the Bank of Russia showed. It was close to double the median forecast of $8.6 billion among economists surveyed by Bloomberg.