The Botswana pula posted mixed movements against major currencies over the past month, weakening against some key trading partners while gaining modest ground against others, according to the latest exchange rate update.
Data for the one-month period to February 2026 show that the pula depreciated by 0.3 percent against the South African rand and by 0.2 percent against the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR). Movements against other major currencies were similarly uneven.
During the same period, the pula weakened by 1.9 percent against the Chinese renminbi and by 0.6 percent against the US dollar. However, the local currency registered gains against several other currencies, appreciating by 1.5 percent against the British pound, 0.8 percent against the Japanese yen and 0.4 percent against the euro.
The short-term movements come against the backdrop of longer-term shifts in global currency markets and regional economic dynamics, particularly the close link between the pula and the South African rand. South Africa remains Botswana’s largest trading partner, meaning fluctuations in the rand often influence the relative value of the local currency.
Over the twelve-month period to February 2026, the pula recorded a sharper depreciation of 7 percent against the rand. Against the SDR, however, the currency appreciated by 2.7 percent over the same period.
Performance against individual SDR constituent currencies was largely positive. The pula appreciated by 12.2 percent against the Japanese yen and by 7.9 percent against the US dollar. It also gained 1.4 percent against the Chinese renminbi and 0.8 percent against the British pound.
The euro was the main exception over the year, with the pula depreciating by 5.1 percent against the European currency.