exchange balance
The flow of family remittances to Guatemala continues with a strong upward trend and in March 20 the growth is 18.1%, that is, double digit, official sources reported.
As of March 20, the sending of family remittances had grown 18.1%, according to the Bank of Guatemala. (PHOTO FREE PRESS: PL hemeroteca)
During the first quarter of the year, The daily income of family remittances reached US $ 87 million, establishing a new mark in the records in the exchange balance. As long as a review of the indicator given the events with the arrival of new government authorities in the United States, which will be announced in April.
As of March 20, an income of US $ 4,900 million (about Q38 billion) is counted, which represents a growth rate of 18.1% compared to the same period last year. The monthly closure is still pending, which will occur next Monday, March 31.
“So far this year there has been a daily increase in family remittances. In the first three months of 2024 the daily average was US $ 70 million, But the average during 2025 quarter increased to US $ 87.5 million per day ”explained the authorities of the Central Banking, during a conference held on Wednesday, March 26, when it was known to keep the leading rate of monetary policy interest.
That means that there is growth in amounts and frequency in 2025 compared to what was observed in 2024; In other words, Guatemalan migrants are sending more transfers to their relatives.
This behavior It would be associated with the Trump effect, especially in the migratory measures that the new authorities are promoting.
Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) forecasts indicate that for This year US $ 22,800.8 million (about Q175 thousand 500 million) will be received, which will mean a 6% growth as a central value.
However, it was clarified that the indicator could be reviewed in April, given the observed and the trend in the first quarter with a double digit growth. In January, it was 23.8% and in February 21.5% the interannual.
The results of the latest remittance survey carried out by the International Organization for Migration (IIM) and which was presented in 2023, the beneficiary population of remittances is 6.6 million people, of which 51.3% are in the rural area, being the departments of San Marcos, Huehuetenango and Quetzaltenango the largest beneficiaries with 27% of the total.