Banks were the most responsible for the increase by raising their external debt by $891.3 million in seven months, from $7.3 billion at the end of 2003 to $8.2 billion at the end of July.
The government's external debt went up $688.5 million in seven months, from $8.4 billion to $9.1 billion at the end of July 2004.
Companies' external debt at the end of July amounted to $6.5 billion, up $536.4 million from the end of 2003.
The government accounts for 35.5 percent of the external debt, banks for 32 percent, and companies for 25.3 percent.