IMF says low income nations need $500 bn in external financing through 2026

Low-income nations will need nearly $500 bn in external financing during 2022-26 period, IMF said, a rise of about $57 bn from a year-ago estimate due largely to spillovers from Russia-Ukraine war

Low-income countries will need nearly $500 billion in external financing during the 2022-2026 period, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday, an increase of about $57 billion from a year-ago estimate due largely to spillovers from Russia's war in Ukraine.

The IMF said in a new policy paper that the Ukraine war, which has exacerbated inflation with major increases in global food, energy and fertilizer prices, will slow down the recovery of low-income countries from the Covid-19 pandemic and further delay income per-capita convergence with more advanced economies.

(Reporting by David Lawder)