USD to CNY in August 2026: high, low, average
Updated September 26, 2026
In August 2026 one US dollar bought 6.7361 Chinese yuan on average. The rate is a cross rate based on 21 European Central Bank reference fixings. The dollar opened the month near its high, 6.7526 on August 3 (the high itself, 6.7535, came on August 4), and ended at the monthly low of 6.7197 on August 31. From first to last fixing the dollar lost 0.49%.
A gradual slide
The yuan strengthened slowly through the month. The dollar fell on 12 fixings and rose on 7. The largest one-day change was a fall of 0.22% on August 20, to 6.7236. The whole month fitted inside a range of 0.5%, which is typical for the yuan, a currency that moves within limits set around a daily reference by the People's Bank of China.
USD/CNY fixings for August 2026
| Date | USD/CNY rate |
|---|---|
| August 3 | 6.7526 |
| August 4 | 6.7535 |
| August 5 | 6.75 |
| August 6 | 6.7491 |
| August 7 | 6.7476 |
| August 10 | 6.7444 |
| August 11 | 6.7453 |
| August 12 | 6.7432 |
| August 13 | 6.743 |
| August 14 | 6.7413 |
| August 17 | 6.7394 |
| August 18 | 6.7423 |
| August 19 | 6.7382 |
| August 20 | 6.7236 |
| August 21 | 6.7206 |
| August 24 | 6.7227 |
| August 25 | 6.7198 |
| August 26 | 6.7205 |
| August 27 | 6.7203 |
| August 28 | 6.7209 |
| August 31 | 6.7197 |
How the yuan has changed over a year
| Month | Average USD/CNY | August 2026 against it |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | 7.1739 | lower by 6.1% |
| July 2026 | 6.7765 | lower by 0.6% |
The year-on-year change is the big story. In August 2025 a dollar bought 7.1739 yuan; in August 2026, 6.7361. The yuan is considerably stronger against the dollar than a year earlier.
What it means for importers and exporters
- Buyers importing from China and paying in yuan pay more dollars for the same yuan invoice than a year ago. In August the cheapest day to buy yuan was August 4, when a dollar bought the most yuan.
- Suppliers in China paid in dollars receive fewer yuan per dollar. For them, early August was better than the end of the month.
- Budgets set a year ago at the August 2025 average of 7.1739 yuan per dollar now need updating, since the average has moved to 6.7361.
At the monthly average, one yuan was worth 0.14845 dollars.
Reading the rate in both directions
Buyers usually think in dollars per yuan, sellers in yuan per dollar. The table above shows yuan per dollar, the way the pair is normally quoted. If your price list is in yuan and you want the dollar cost, divide by the rate of the day or use the inverse average of 0.14845 for a rough monthly figure. For a contract, write down which direction and which day the rate refers to, because a misunderstanding here changes the invoice by the full amount of the rate, far more than any market move.
Onshore and offshore yuan
The ECB reference rate is for the onshore yuan (CNY). Trade finance and some payment platforms quote the offshore yuan (CNH), which trades in Hong Kong and can differ slightly. For contracts, specify which rate and which source apply, so both sides use the same figure for settlement.
What to do
- Find the rate for your payment date on the USD/CNY daily rates for August 2026 page.
- Open USD/CNY on the high day of the month to see the August 4 fixing.
- If your cost planning still uses last year's rate, update it using USD/CNY in 2026.
- Compare your bank's conversion with the reference rate of the same day.
- Check the USD to CNY exchange rate today and use the 100 USD to CNY converter for quick estimates.
Questions and answers
What was the average USD to CNY rate in August 2026?
The dollar averaged 6.7361 yuan in August 2026, based on 21 ECB cross rates.
Did the yuan strengthen in August 2026?
Yes, slightly. USD/CNY fell from 6.7526 on August 3 to 6.7197 on August 31, a decline of 0.49%.
How does the August 2026 yuan rate compare with a year earlier?
The dollar bought 6.7361 yuan on average in August 2026, compared with 7.1739 in August 2025, a fall of 6.1%.