Jamaica continues to garner increasing inflows of remittances, with the latest data indicating another record year of well over $2 billion to be generated from this source, with just two more months’ figures left to close out the year.
The country should see the record inflows for 2014 amounted to US$2.157 billion being broken by a good margin based on the figures up to October. The latest information shows remittance inflows in October growing a strong 6.7 percent over to the corresponding month in 2014, to reach US$192 million, for an increase of US$12 million. Net flows were US$171 million, an increase of US$11 million or 7 percent, relative to the October 2014 as outflows grew at a slower pace than inflows, at 4.9 percent. Inflows for August and September grew by less than one percent per month over the similar months of 2014 and may have contributed to the increase in October.
For the year to October, total remittance inflows increased by US$63 million or 3.5 percent to US$1.84 billion while net inflows rose by US$59 million or 3.7 percent, to US$1.65 billion.
Remittances up strongly in October
Remittances growing slowly
Jamaica enjoyed US$194 million in remittance inflows for the March this year, an increase of US$5.7 million or 3.1 percent relative to the same month of last year, after factoring an expansion in remittance outflows, net remittances came in at US$174.4 million, an increase of only US$2.6 million or 1.5 percent over the 2014 period.
Total remittance inflows were US$528 million for the first three months of the year, an increase of US$13 million or 2.6 percent. Net remittances for the 2015 March quarter were US$471 million, growth ofUS$8.3 million or 1.8 percent relative to the corresponding period of 2014. For the review period.
For 2014 total inflows into the system is put at US$2.16 billion by Bank Of Jamaica while outflows amounted to $227 million and declined from US$240 million in 2013 and US$267 million in 2012.
January remittances climb
Jamaica enjoyed a record haul in remittance inflows for the month of January with US$166 million garnered in January this year, according to data from Bank of Jamaica.
The flows represent an increase of US$8 million or 5.1 percent more than the amounts collected in January 2014. The growth in remittance inflows and a contraction in outflows resulted in net remittance inflows increasing at a faster pace than total inflows, with net remittances of US$147.4 million for January 2015, an increase of US$9.5 million or 6.9 percent over January 2014.
The gain in net inflows would have been occasioned by greater stability and availability of foreign exchange locally.
Remittances top $2.16b in 2014
Remittance inflows for 2014 exceeded the amount earned by Jamaica in 2013 by US$95 million or 4.6 percent, according to data released by Jamaica’s Central Bank.
The country saw total inflows of US$2.16 billion for the January to December period. The total flows are likely to be just under the $2.2 billion estimated inflows from the tourism sector for 2014.
Net remittances for 2014 were US$1.93 billion, representing a growth of US$102 million or 5.6 percent compared to 2013 and emanated from an increase in gross inflows and a reduction of outflows.
The increase in total remittance inflows reflected an increase of US$95 million in inflows through Remittance Companies. This increase was however partly offset by a decline of US$0.5 million in inflows from the Other Remittances sub-category.
Remittances continue up in August
Gross remittance inflows for August this year, grew by 3.5 percent or US$6 million to US$184 million.
Total remittance out flows fell slightly from US$22.3 million to US$21.6 million and resulted in net inflows of US$162.3 million, an increase of US$6.8 million or 4.4 percent over August 2013. For the eight months to August total remittance inflows amounted to US$1.422 billion, an increase of US$54 million or 3.9 percent but outflows contracted by 14 million to $150 million and resulted in net inflows increasing by US$68 million or 5.6 percent over the similar period in 2013 to hit US$1.27 billion. The data released by Jamaica’s central bank showed.
Record take – Jamaica’s remittances
Jamaica enjoyed record inflows of remittances, between January and July this year. The critically important flow of funds, reached $1.238 billion, representing an increase of US$47.6 million or 4 percent to be the highest inflows ever, according to the latest data on remittances, released by the country’s central bank.
The 2014 inflows, bettered the previous high of US$1.195 billion, in 2012 and the next highest, $1.192 billion in 2008. Net remittances for 2014 to-date, is US$1.109 billion, a growth of US$61 million or 5.8 percent relative to 2013. The out-turn for the period reflects an increase in gross inflows and a reduction in outflows.
Net remittances for July this year were US$160.5 million, an increase of US$10.9 million or 7.3 percent over the July 2013. The growth in net remittance inflows reflect an increase in gross remittance, which was partially offset by an expansion in remittance outflows.
Gross remittance inflows for the month were US$183.2 million, an increase of US$12.6 million or 7.4 percent compared to July 2013.
Jamaica’s remittance inflows grow
Remittance inflows into Jamaica, this year, continue to grow, with an increase of US$50 million or 5.6 percent in net remittances for the six months to June, over the same period in 2013, to reach US$949 million, according to information released by the country’s central bank.
“Total remittance inflows were US$1.06 billion, an increase of US$35 million while outflows declined compared with the 2013 period,” the Bank of Jamaica report states. Net remittances for June 2014, were US$154 million, an increase of US$8 million or 5.4 percent over the corresponding period of 2013, resulting from an increase in gross remittance inflows and a contraction in outflows. Gross remittance inflows for the month were US$168 million, an increase of US$2.3 million or just 1.4 percent relative to the corresponding month of 2013.
For June, total Remittance Outflows amounted to $15 million a reduction from the $20 million in June 2013 and for the six months, $106 million and $121 million in 2013.
Jamaica’s remittances upward climb
Jamaica net remittances for May this year, grew US$10 million or 6 percent, to US$172 million, versus May 2013. The increase resulted from gross inflows growing by US$7 million to US$189 million, and a contraction in outflows.
Remittance Companies accounted for an increases of US$13 million in inflows, while Other Remittances saw a reduction of US$5.5 million, Bank of Jamaica stated in their report on remittances.
Net remittances for the year to May, amounts to US$795 million, representing growth of US$42 million or 5.6 percent, compared to 2013 period. The outturn for the review period, reflected an increase in gross inflows, and a reduction in outflows. For the period total remittance inflows were US$887 million, representing an increase of US$33 million or 3.8 percent.
Jamaica remittances grow but lag region
Remittances into Jamaica continue to grow as the international economy continues to recover from the depression suffered since 2008. Jamaica’s increase of 4.4 percent for the first three months of 2014, is one of the lowest in the region of countries with large remittance inflows. Mexico is up 13 percent, El Salvador 8 percent and Guatemala 9 percent. Most likely, exchange instability affected Jamaica’s numbers negatively.
Net remittances, increased by US$11 million to US$172 million for March 2014, or 6.7 percent over March last year. Gross inflows were US$188 million, an increase of US$9 million. Net remittances for the three months to March amounted to US$461 million, an increase of US$30 million or 6.9 percent. For the three months, total remittance inflows were US$514 million, an increase of US$22 million or 4.4 percent.
Inflows were higher in each of the three months for the year, so far. Total remittance outflows declined in the quarter versus 2013, from US$61 down to US$53. The USA accounted for 61 percent of inflows and the UK 16 percent, in the quarter.