According to statistical data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), in September 2012 the amount of foreign exchange settlement and sales by banks on behalf of clients amounted to USD137.4 billion and USD131.1 billion respectively. The surplus of foreign exchange settlement and sales amounted to USD6.3 billion. During the same period, the total amount involved in contracts for forward settlement of foreign exchange with banks on behalf of clients was USD13.3 billion, the total amount involved in contracts for forward sale of foreign exchange was USD18.9 billion, and net forward exchange sales equaled USD5.7 billion. In the first nine months of 2012, the cumulative amount of foreign exchange settlement and foreign exchange sales by banks on behalf of clients amounted to USD1137.8 billion and USD1107.8 billion respectively. The surplus of foreign exchange settlement and sales was USD30 billion. During the same period, the cumulative amount in contracts for forward settlement of foreign exchange with banks on behalf of clients was USD123.5 billion, the cumulative amount in contracts for forward sale of foreign exchange was USD139.1 billion, and the cumulative net forward sale of foreign exchange with banks on behalf of clients was USD15.7 billion.

In September 2012, foreign-related receipts and payments of domestic banks on behalf of clients amounted to USD219.7 billion and USD228.6 billion respectively, and the deficit of foreign-related receipts and payments reached USD8.9 billion. In the first nine months of 2012, the cumulative foreign-related receipts and payments of banks on behalf of clients amounted to USD1887.3 billion and USD1808.1 billion respectively, and the cumulative surplus of foreign-related receipts and payments reached USD79.1 billion.