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Jansson speech summary here
Data on FX settlements from China's SAFE show the FX settlement ratio (a proxy for client willingness to settle FX) posting a sharp rise in September, to 71.2% from 61.2% in August. This is the highest level since August 2023 and is consistent with a sharp rise in exporters settling FX transactions in the month that covered USDCNY printing a new YTD low (Aug-Sept peak to trough was over 1.5%).
In contrast, the FX sales ratio (a proxy for client willingness to buy FX) was relatively stable at 63.3% (vs. August 67.7%), leading to a wider gap between settlement and sales in September. As a result, the FX settlement-sales spread has risen to a new 2025 high, and would be consistent with the weaker USD helping trigger the fastest pace of corporates closing out of FX positions relative to new FX exposure over the period.
Figure 1: FX Settlement/Sales Spread Highest of the Year

Source: MNI / SAFE / Bloomberg Finance L.P.
In addition, the SAFE data also shows an FX surplus totalling $51.1bln as a result of the rise of total FX purchases (up to $265bln from $212bln) outpacing the rise in FX sales (up to $214bln from $197bln).