Press release

ECBC Publishes Covered Bond Statistics for 2019 – Global Growth in Covered Bond Asset Class

2 September 2020

ECBC Publishes Covered Bond Statistics for 2019

Global Growth in Covered Bond Asset Class

 

Brussels, 2 September 2020 – For immediate release

 

The European Covered Bond Council (ECBC) is pleased to announce the online publication of its covered bond market statistics for 2019. The ECBC data covers market developments over the past 17 years for 34 different countries.

 

The covered bond industry proved its liveliness in 2019, which was confirmed by over EUR 2.7 tn. outstanding and EUR 546 bn. of new issuance, nearly reaching the all-time high of 2012, with 329 active covered bond issuers worldwide, the highest figure recorded by the ECBC.

 

Commenting on the statistics for 2019, Luca Bertalot, EMF-ECBC Secretary General, said:

 

The level of outstanding volume, along with the number of new and active issuers, confirms the systemic  significance of this asset class in the European Union and the global financial landscapes  — but  particularly with respect to Europe’s economic recovery and the formulation of the Capital Markets Union.”

 

The now published statistics will be an integral part of the 2020 edition of the ECBC Fact Book, which will be published at the end of September 2020.

 

The ECBC Working Group on Statistics and Data is responsible for coordinating the annual ECBC data collection exercise, which collates information on issuing activities and volumes outstanding of covered bonds at year end worldwide in both public and private placements. The aim of this exercise is to provide a complete set of numbers that can serve as guidance for interested parties from issuers and investors to regulators.

 

Commenting of the statistics for 2019, Joost Beaumont, Chairman of the ECBC Statistics and Data Working Group, said:

 

“First of all, a big thank you to all individuals involved in the data collection exercise, which is only possible with the cooperation of the Working Group’s members, together with the support of covered bond issuers and banking associations. The data shows that the covered bond market kept its positive momentum in 2019 with the market growing by 5.0%, following growth of 4.7% in 2018, now reaching over EUR 2.7 tn.. Similarly, in terms of new issuance, the EUR 546 bn. of new supply marked a 9% increase with respect to 2018. Overall, covered bonds once again proved their role as a crucial funding tool for banks around the globe.”

 

The ECBC Covered Bond Statistics for 2019 are available on the ECBC website.