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Singapore overtakes London as top RMB offshore clearing centre after Hong Kong

Singapore overtakes London as top RMB offshore clearing centre after Hong Kong

Renminbi,
28 April 2014 | 3 min read

Brussels, 28 April 2014 - Swift data shows that Singapore's RMB payments value increased by 375% between March 2013 and March 2014, making Singapore number one in terms of RMB world payments value, excluding China and Hong Kong. Singapore's weight represents 6.8% of the overall RMB payments value, second behind Hong Kong, which still leads with 72.4%. London overtook Singapore in June 2012, but, since February 2014, it has slipped behind Singapore despite a good growth rate of 203% year-over-year from 2013. London now carries the weight of 5.9%.

Claus Kwon, Head of Securities Markets, Asia Pacific, at Swift says: "Ever since last year's nomination of ICBC as a clearing bank in Singapore, we have been expecting the Singapore RMB payments flows to accelerate, especially as Chinese companies use it as a hub to reach ASEAN countries. We are now anticipating securities traffic to ramp up as well. In April, the Monetary Authority of Singapore indicated in a speech  that they are now looking to expand from a strong base in trade financing to developing a broader range of RMB investment offerings, particularly in capital markets and asset management."

Mr. Kwon adds: "The United Kingdom and Singapore appear to be taking a collaborative approach to serve RMB internationalisation. For example, this past February, the UK and Singapore governments announced the new UK-Singapore Financial Dialogue, a private sector forum designed to boost the development of the offshore Renminbi market."

In March 2014, the RMB strengthened its position as the seventh-ranked global payments currency with a new record-high activity share of 1.62% (from 1.42% in February 2014). The RMB is gaining on the Canadian Dollar (CAD) at 1.83% and the Australian Dollar (AUD) at 1.84%. At a global level, RMB payments increased in value by 29.0% in March 2014 compared to February 2014, when all currencies increased by 13.4% during that same period.

About Swift
Swift is a member-owned cooperative that provides the communications platform, products and services to connect more than 10,000 banking organisations, securities institutions and corporate customers in 212 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 http://www.swift.com/ or follow us on Twitter: @swiftcommunity and LinkedIn: Swift

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 our Renminbi product page or join our new ‘Business Intelligence Transaction Banking' LinkedIn group!  

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.

Swift
Ernest Chan
Head of Media Relations, Asia Pacific, Swift
Tel: +852 2107 8873
ernest.chan@swift.com

Bite Communications
Rosemary Merz
Tel: +852 2973 0222
rosemary.merz@bitecommunications.com

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