Brussels, 25 September 2014 – Swift’s latest RMB Tracker shows that over the past two years, RMB payments worldwide have nearly tripled in value. In addition, the RMB is now supported by a much broader base with 35% more financial institutions using the RMB for payments with China and Hong Kong.
Today, more than one third of financial institutions around the world are now using the RMB for payments to China and Hong Kong. Asia leads the way at nearly 40% adoption, with an increase of +22% since 2012. The Americas follows at 32% adoption with an increase of +44%. Europe falls closely behind the Americas at 31% adoption with an increase of +47%, and the Middle East and Africa is at 26% adoption, with an increase of +83% during the same two-year period.
“It is encouraging to see that RMB usage by financial institutions and corporates is steadily growing”, says Stephen Gilderdale, Head of New Business Development at Swift. “More financial institutions using the RMB will improve the utility of the currency in Hong Kong, China and other offshore centres. As the currency continues to grow, opportunities will arise leading to the development of new products and services denominated in RMB. These new products and services will help drive greater use of the RMB globally while making it a more efficient currency to manage.”
Overall, the RMB strengthened its position as the seventh-ranked global payments currency and accounted for 1.64% of global payments, an increase from 1.57% in July 2014. In August 2014, the value of RMB global payments decreased by 6%, whilst all currencies dropped by 10%, which is a trend most likely attributable to lower seasonal payments activity.
About Swift RMB Tracker & RMB Internationalisation
Launched in September 2011, the Swift RMB Tracker provides monthly reporting on key statistics to understand the progress made by RMB towards becoming an international currency. To register for the RMB Tracker in English, Traditional or Simplified Chinese, visit swift.com (select ‘Banks on Swift’) or e-mail swiftforbanks@swift.com.
For more information about RMB Internationalisation, please visit www.swift.com/products/renminbi/overview/ or join our new ‘Business Intelligence Transaction Banking’ LinkedIn group!
About Swift
Swift is a member-owned cooperative that provides the communications platform, products and services to connect more than 10,500 banking organisations, securities institutions and corporate customers in 215 countries and territories. Swift enables its users to exchange automated, standardised financial information securely and reliably, thereby lowering costs, reducing operational risk and eliminating operational inefficiencies. Swift also brings the financial community together to work collaboratively to shape market practice, define standards and debate issues of mutual interest.
For more information about Swift, please visit www.swift.com or follow us on Twitter: @swiftcommunity and LinkedIn: Swift.
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Disclaimer:
This report is provided for information only. If the customer or any third party decides to take any course of action or omission based on this report and/or any conclusion contained therein, they shall do so at their own risk and Swift shall not be liable for any loss or damage, arising from their acts or omissions based on this report and/or any recommendations contained therein.
