Polymer Plastic Banknotes Usage by Country..
Polymer is a form of plastic, and ideal for making Banknotes that last longer than paper. The experience with polymer notes in Australia has shown that their life is approximately five times that of paper.
Australia invented the Polymer Banknote and began using them in 1988. By 1996 Australia had switched completely to plastic/polymer banknotes.
By 2019 at least 50 other countries have begun using Polymer Banknotes.
- 1988 Australia began to issue the Polymer banknote. rba.gov.au/…/polymer-banknotes/
- 1991 Papua New Guinea has been issuing polymer banknotes since 1991, with all denominations being polymer since 2008. Paper banknotes are no longer legal tender since 2014. bankpng.gov.pg
- 1999 New Zealand began circulating polymer banknotes in May 1999 rbnz.govt.nz
- 2011 Canada began to issue the Polymer $100 note in June 2011, $50 in March 2012. $20, $10, and $5 notes in 2013. bankofcanada.ca
- 2012: Malaysia introduced the RM1 and RM5 polymer banknotes bnm.gov.my
- 2016: United Kingdom began to issue the Polymer £5 in September 2016 £10 in September 2017, £20 note in 20 February 2020.bankofengland.co.uk
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), through its ‘Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA)’ subsidiary, has supplied the following countries with Polymer Banknotes, between 1990 and 2001. (rba.gov.au/…/note-printing)
1990 Singapore 50 Dollar
1992 Western Samoa 2 Tala
1992 Papua New Guinea 2 Kina
1992 Kuwait 1 Dinar
1994 Indonesia 50,000 Rupiah
1996 Brunei Darussalam 1, 5, 10 Dollar
1996 Thailand 50, 500 Baht
1997 Thailand 50 Baht
1998 Sri Lanka 200 Rupee
1998 Malaysia 50 Ringgit
1999 New Zealand 5, 10, 20, 50 & 100 Dollar
1999 Papua New Guinea 50 Kina
1999 Romania 2,000 Lei
1999 Indonesia 100,000 Rupiah
2000 Romania 500,000 Lei
2000 Papua New Guinea 2, 10, 20, 50 Kina
2000 Bangladesh 10 Taka
2001 Kuwait 1 Dinar
2001 Solomon Islands 2 Dollar
2001 Mexico 20 Peso
2002 Nepal 10 Rupee
2003 Papua New Guinea 20 Kina
2003 Vietnam 50,000 Dong
2004 Singapore 10 Dollar
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