Kuwait’s exposure to U.S. Treasury securities continued its impressive upward trajectory, rising to $59.43 billion at the end of September — up from $48.29 billion in September 2024.
This marks a robust 23.07% annual increase, equivalent to $11.14 billion, underscoring Kuwait’s strategic strengthening of high-quality, low-risk foreign reserves.
According to the latest monthly data from the U.S. Treasury Department, Kuwait’s September holdings not only set a new all-time record, but also highlight a trend of sustained accumulation.
Historical data show that the country’s holdings last stood at $41.94 billion in January 2020, and since then have crossed the $50 billion threshold only 17 times, making the current level particularly noteworthy.
Month-on-month, Kuwait’s holdings inched up by 0.32% from $59.24 billion in August, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth.
Compared to end-2024 levels of $50.34 billion, the rise represents a strong 18.06% increase, or $9.09 billion—reflecting deliberate portfolio expansion amid global financial volatility.
Kuwait’s September portfolio was heavily weighted toward long-term stability, comprising $58.12 billion in long-term Treasuries and $1.3 billion in short-term instruments.
Regionally, Saudi Arabia continued to lead Arab holders of U.S. Treasuries with $134.3 billion, ranking 18th globally.
On the global stage, Japan remained the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt with $1.19 trillion, followed by the United Kingdom ($865 billion) and China ($700.5 billion).
Overall, total foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury securities stood at $9.25 trillion by end of September, up 5.47% year-on-year but down slightly—0.11%—from August’s level of $9.26 trillion.
Kuwait’s continued buildup highlights the country’s prudent fiscal positioning, leveraging U.S. Treasuries as a cornerstone of liquidity, safety, and global financial integration.
