"SICIs [systemically important credit institutions], the main agent working with foreign currency earnings of exporters, were the leading currency sellers in the market. The amount of net sales of SICIs in September increased from 431.1 billion rubles ($ 6.7 billion) to 693.6 billion rubles ($10.9 billion). The combined amount of net sales of the largest exporters grew to $21 billion in September from $20.8 billion in August," the report said.
According to the central bank, the main net buyers of foreign currency in the foreign exchange market are banks that do not belong to SICIs. The number of purchases made by these banks increased to 544.3 billion rubles ($8.5 billion) in September, which is 70% more than in August.
The report also noted that individuals bought foreign currency worth 139.4 billion rubles ($2.2 billion) in total in the foreign exchange market, including 22.7 billion rubles ($355 million)' worth of yuan.