8 March 2021

EUR and USD increase share of GSSS currencies

The share of the green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bond market issued in Euros (EUR) and US dollars (USD) increased in 2020, each seeing an increase of nearly 4%, and remaining the top two currencies in terms of the value of issuance.

According to the Environmental Finance Bond database, Japanese Yen (JPY) remained steady in its percentage share of the market, as JPY Issuance grew in value at the same pace as the market. It also meant that as EUR and USD issuances took up more space in the market, JPY increased its position to the third biggest currency by issued value in 2020, up from fifth place in 2019.

It took the position from Chinese Yuan (CNY), which fell from 5% of market share in 2019 to 1.7% in 2020.

Issuance value by currency

Source: Environmental Finance's Bond Database and Sustainable Bind Insight 2021

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This year's edition contains 14 chapters from leading institutions in the green, social and sustainability bond markets analysing the main developments in 2020 and the outlook for 2021.

These contributions are supplemented by graphics and data from the EF Bond Database.