IBOV 185,229.17 ▼ 0.41% IPSA 11,381.18 ▲ 1.30% IPC MEX 63,375.93 ▼ 0.78% MERVAL 3,021,926 ▼ 1.29% COLCAP 2,548.22 ▲ 1.05% BVL PERÚ 60,023.65 ▼ 1.13% USD/BRL5.14▲ 0.26% USD/MXN17.22▲ 0.30% USD/CLP959.00▼ 0.31% USD/COP3,175▲ 1.37% USD/PEN3.37▼ 0.10% USD/ARS1,514▲ 0.26% USD/UYU40.16▲ 2.90% USD/PYG5,906▲ 2.95% USD/BOB9.95▼ 6.56% USD/DOP58.83▲ 0.22% USD/CRC444.45▲ 2.49% USD/GTQ7.63▲ 3.03% USD/HNL26.85▲ 0.38% USD/NIO36.62▲ 2.64% USD/VES846.42▼ 0.13% USD/PAB1.00— 0.00% USD/BZD2.00— 0.00% USD/JMD 157.28 — 0.00% USD/TTD6.75▲ 2.57% EUR/BRL5.91▲ 0.04% BRENT 88.88 ▼ 0.03% WTI 83.11 ▼ 0.11% IRON ORE 161.91 — — COPPER 6.61 ▲ 0.03% GOLD 4,461 ▲ 1.78% SILVER 65.59 ▲ 1.26% SOY 1,184 ▲ 3.20% CORN 480.50 ▲ 10.02% WHEAT 655.00 ▲ 3.93% COFFEE 317.25 ▼ 5.51% SUGAR 16.43 ▼ 1.79% ORANGE JUICE 138.55 ▼ 0.47% COTTON 85.03 ▲ 2.33% COCOA 5,719 ▲ 3.18% BEEF 223.60 ▼ 3.93% CATTLE 339.10 ▼ 3.16% LITHIUM 75.20 ▲ 1.47% PETR4 41.64 ▼ 0.05% VALE3 72.97 ▲ 0.83% ITUB4 38.60 ▼ 1.03% BBDC4 16.85 ▲ 0.36% ABEV3 14.89 ▼ 0.80% BBAS3 19.37 ▲ 0.47% B3SA3 14.26 ▼ 0.21% WEGE3 47.59 ▲ 0.49% PRIO3 59.14 ▼ 0.19% SUZB3 41.33 ▲ 2.35% RENT3 34.68 ▼ 0.09% AZZA3 15.89 ▼ 2.63% CSAN3 3.22 ▼ 1.83% RAIZ4 0.25 — 0.00% PCAR3 2.75 ▼ 0.36% GMAT3 3.65 ▼ 1.08% PSSA3 48.13 ▼ 0.54% CVCB3 1.33 ▼ 2.92% POSI3 3.36 ▲ 2.44% SLCE3 13.34 ▲ 0.30% NATU3 8.14 ▼ 0.73% IBOV 185,229.17 ▼ 0.41% IPSA 11,381.18 ▲ 1.30% IPC MEX 63,375.93 ▼ 0.78% MERVAL 3,021,926 ▼ 1.29% COLCAP 2,548.22 ▲ 1.05% BVL PERÚ 60,023.65 ▼ 1.13% USD/BRL 5.16 ▲ 0.01% USD/MXN 17.06 ▼ 0.24% USD/CLP 913.98 ▲ 0.04% USD/COP 3,140 ▲ 0.03% USD/PEN 3.36 ▼ 0.66% USD/ARS 1,493 ▲ 0.10% USD/UYU 40.27 ▲ 1.24% USD/PYG 5,939 ▲ 1.68% USD/BOB 11.64 ▼ 0.76% USD/DOP 58.34 ▲ 1.25% USD/CRC 445.92 ▲ 0.89% USD/GTQ 7.62 ▲ 2.21% USD/HNL 26.79 ▲ 1.57% USD/NIO 36.62 ▲ 0.69% USD/VES 762.44 ▼ 0.13% USD/PAB 1.00 — 0.00% USD/BZD 2.00 — 0.00% USD/JMD 157.28 — 0.00% USD/TTD 6.70 ▲ 0.61% EUR/BRL 5.95 ▲ 1.01% BRENT 88.88 ▼ 0.03% WTI 83.11 ▼ 0.11% IRON ORE 161.91 — — COPPER 6.61 ▲ 0.03% GOLD 4,461 ▲ 1.78% SILVER 65.59 ▲ 1.26% SOY 1,184 ▲ 3.20% CORN 480.50 ▲ 10.02% WHEAT 655.00 ▲ 3.93% COFFEE 317.25 ▼ 5.51% SUGAR 16.43 ▼ 1.79% ORANGE JUICE 138.55 ▼ 0.47% COTTON 85.03 ▲ 2.33% COCOA 5,719 ▲ 3.18% BEEF 223.60 ▼ 3.93% CATTLE 339.10 ▼ 3.16% LITHIUM 75.20 ▲ 1.47% PETR4 41.64 ▼ 0.05% VALE3 72.97 ▲ 0.83% ITUB4 38.60 ▼ 1.03% BBDC4 16.85 ▲ 0.36% ABEV3 14.89 ▼ 0.80% BBAS3 19.37 ▲ 0.47% B3SA3 14.26 ▼ 0.21% WEGE3 47.59 ▲ 0.49% PRIO3 59.14 ▼ 0.19% SUZB3 41.33 ▲ 2.35% RENT3 34.68 ▼ 0.09% AZZA3 15.89 ▼ 2.63% CSAN3 3.22 ▼ 1.83% RAIZ4 0.25 — 0.00% PCAR3 2.75 ▼ 0.36% GMAT3 3.65 ▼ 1.08% PSSA3 48.13 ▼ 0.54% CVCB3 1.33 ▼ 2.92% POSI3 3.36 ▲ 2.44% SLCE3 13.34 ▲ 0.30% NATU3 8.14 ▼ 0.73%
since 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2026

The Rise of the Yuan: China’s Currency Makes Global Strides

By · July 29, 2024 · 2 min read

The LatAm Brief

One email, every weekday morning. What moved in Latin American markets, politics and expat life.

Yesterday’s subject line: “Brazil raised welfare 15% — seventeen days before the vote”

Free. We send a confirmation link first — nothing arrives until you click it. Unsubscribe with one click in any edition. If you stop opening us for 30 days we stop sending by ourselves, as we assume the interest is no longer there. See our privacy policy. We never share your email.

The Chinese yuan is securing its place globally, showcasing China’s expanding economic influence.

In 2023, the Renminbi Internationalization Index from Renmin University surged by 22.9%, reaching a score of 6.27.

This marks a significant rise, positioning the yuan above long-standing leaders like the British pound and Japanese yen in international trade and finance.

China’s initiatives, notably the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, have significantly contributed.

These efforts bolster the yuan’s global stature while reflecting China’s commitment to quality economic growth amid global challenges.

The Rise of the Yuan: China's Currency Makes Global Strides
The Rise of the Yuan: China’s Currency Makes Global Strides.
One-stop reference
Company Intelligence
Every listed company in Latin America — financials, ownership and structure for 1,450+ companies across 26 exchanges, in one place.
Browse the directory →
RT
Ask Rio Times
17 years of Latin America reporting, on demand.
Open the full Ask Rio Times →

Yet the path is fraught with challenges. Geopolitical tensions and a weaker exchange rate against the US dollar pose considerable obstacles.

These issues lower the return on yuan-denominated assets and decrease its portion of global foreign exchange reserves.

In response, China is harnessing technology. By employing blockchain and big data, China aims to secure and streamline cross-border financial processes.

These technological solutions are set to fortify supply chains and boost the efficiency of global financial interactions.

China’s Financial Innovations

Furthermore, China is enhancing its trade policies. Led by experts like Tan Xiaofen from Beihang University, these innovations in financial settlements are expanding the yuan’s application.

The currency’s use in trade settlements climbed to 4.43% of the global total by last year’s end, marking a substantial growth of 34.18%.

The first half of 2024 witnessed China‘s foreign trade soar to 21.17 trillion yuan, up 6.1% from the prior year. During this period, the yuan composed 4.61% of global payments by June.

Concurrently, there’s a pressing need to improve systems like the cross-border interbank payment system.

Enhancing these systems will support the yuan’s rise and cement its role in the global economy.

This is crucial for China’s strategy to open its financial markets to the world. Such a move not only strengthens China’s economic position but also reshapes global trade dynamics.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error

Read More from The Rio Times

The Rio Times · Power Map
See who really holds power in Latin America
Click to open the Power Map

Rotate for Best Experience

This report is optimized for landscape viewing. Rotate your phone for the full experience.