Suriname has rolled out a revised framework of foreign exchange regulations that comes into force on August 17, 2026, introducing updated mandatory retention requirements for all export earnings, with a specific differentiated rule for gold exporters. Issued as General Decree No. 228 by the country’s Foreign Exchange Commission, the new policy replaces three prior regulatory documents dating back to 2022 and 2023, and amends select provisions of a 2021 decree. The policy update was finalized after formal consultation between the Foreign Exchange Commission, the President of Suriname, the Minister of Finance and Planning, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS).
Under the new regulatory scheme, all export sectors face a mandatory 35% retention requirement for foreign currency export earnings, but the process of selling the required currency differs for gold exporters compared to other export categories. Gold exporters are mandated to offer 35% of their total foreign currency export earnings directly to the Central Bank of Suriname. The CBvS will purchase the foreign currency at the bank’s published weighted average exchange rate, with the transaction required to be processed through the local commercial foreign exchange bank where export earnings were first repatriated to Suriname.
For all other export sectors covering goods, services and other valuable commodities, the 35% mandatory retention rule still applies, but the required foreign currency is sold instead to local commercial foreign exchange banks that maintain correspondent relationships with the overseas financial institutions through which export earnings were repatriated. Across all export categories, exporters retain full access to the remaining 65% of their foreign currency earnings, which may be credited directly to their operating accounts for use at their discretion.
The Foreign Exchange Commission framed the policy adjustment as a key step in strengthening the organization and oversight of Suriname’s foreign exchange transactions. A core stated goal of the new regulation is to ensure that all export earnings, including those from gold exports, are fully repatriated back to Suriname in foreign currency, boosting the country’s overall foreign exchange reserves.
To enforce compliance, the new rules require all exporters to submit monthly written documentation proving they have met their retention obligations. These compliance reports must be filed with the Foreign Exchange Commission no later than 14 days after the end of each reporting month. Exporters that fail to meet their mandatory obligations face penalties including the revocation of existing export licenses, including permits for cross-border goods movement. The Central Bank of Suriname also retains the authority to issue additional supplementary implementation guidelines to clarify the application of the new regulation.