Xetra ETF & ETP Stats 2024: Growth in AUM and Product Diversity
Deutsche Börse’s Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) segment saw significant growth in 2024, with assets under management (AUM) reaching a record €1.83 trillion, marking a 33.9% increase from €1.36 trillion in December 2023. Trading turnover in ETFs and ETPs on Xetra rose by 28% to €230.8 billion, compared to €180.4 billion in 2023. Notably, trading in non-euro currencies grew by 82.9%, totaling €1.81 billion (up from €989 million in 2023). This highlights the increasing demand for ETFs and ETPs in other currencies like the US dollar and British pound, with Xetra now offering 180 products in these currencies.
The growth in trading activity is also reflected in the heightened interest of European ETF issuers in launching new products. In 2024, Deutsche Börse recorded 281 new ETF listings, the highest number since the segment’s inception in 2000. By the end of the year, the total number of ETFs on Xetra stood at 2,328 (up from 2,125 in 2023), and ETPs increased to 446 (up from 424 in 2023). This solidifies Xetra’s position as Europe’s largest exchange for ETFs and ETPs.
Active ETFs Continue to Drive Growth
Active ETFs were among the key drivers of growth, achieving new record highs in 2024 across various metrics. A total of 78 new active ETF products were added, bringing the total to 197 active ETFs on Xetra, up from 119 the previous year. Assets in active ETFs reached €44.2 billion at the end of 2024, nearly double the €22.4 billion reported in 2023. Active ETFs saw a 127% year-on-year increase in trading volume, generating €2.76 billion in turnover, compared to €1.22 billion in 2023. Furthermore, the number of issuers offering active ETFs grew, with four new providers joining the market in 2024, bringing the total number of active ETF issuers to 22.
Stephan Kraus, Head of the ETF & ETP segment at Deutsche Börse, highlighted that active ETFs, an emerging category in the ETF market, are gaining popularity among both investors and providers. Investors benefit from innovative investment concepts and low management fees. At the end of 2024, the average management fee for index ETFs on Xetra was 0.27%, while active ETFs had an average fee of 0.36%.
Thematic ETFs Gain Traction
Thematic ETFs focusing on sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and defense also saw substantial growth. AI-related ETFs experienced a 95.1% increase in assets, reaching €10.7 billion, up from €5.5 billion in 2023. Trading volume in this category surged by 177.2% to €4.55 billion, up from €1.64 billion in 2023. ETFs in the defense sector saw even more remarkable growth, with assets under management jumping by 1,652% to €2.17 billion, compared to €123.9 million the previous year. The trading turnover of these ETFs also saw a 1,263% increase to €1.04 billion, highlighting investor interest in defense-related investments.
Overnight Rate ETFs See Increased Demand
In the bond ETF space, overnight rate ETFs continued their growth, offering an attractive alternative to traditional call money accounts. These products, which aim to reflect the key interest rates of a currency area, saw their assets grow by 188.8%, reaching €19.2 billion by the end of 2024. The trading turnover of overnight rate ETFs also experienced a significant boost, rising by 149.1% to €6.57 billion.
Crypto ETNs Benefit from Market Revival
The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US in early 2024 sparked a resurgence in the crypto exchange-traded note (ETN) market across Europe. Xetra saw a significant increase in trading volume for crypto ETNs, which jumped by 239.2% to €10.3 billion, up from €3.05 billion in 2023. Assets under management in crypto ETNs grew by 115.3% to €11.4 billion. By the end of 2024, Xetra offered 93 crypto ETNs, tracking 21 individual cryptocurrencies and 21 crypto indices. All crypto ETNs listed on Xetra are physically backed by the underlying crypto assets and offer central clearing, a unique feature in Europe for such a broad range of cryptocurrencies.
