European exchange-traded fund assets swelled to $2.18trn by the end of August 2024, supported by significant inflows throughout the month, said data firm ETFGI in its latest report released on Wednesday 18 September. This milestone reflects the continued growth momentum in the sector.

Inflows

In August 2024, the European ETF industry recorded net inflows of $24.78bn, noted ETFGI. These inflows pushed the year-to-date net inflows to a record $151.97bn, surpassing all previous records. The second-highest YTD inflows were seen in 2021 at $138.94bn, with 2023 following at $96.05bn.

Total assets in the European ETFs sector have surged by 19.8% since the start of the year, rising from $1.82trn at the end of 2023 to $2.18trn by the end of August. This represents the 23rd consecutive month of net inflows, signalling sustained investor interest and market resilience.

ETF industry

By the end of August, the European ETF market had expanded to include 3,053 products and 12,522 listings, with total assets reaching $2.18trn. These assets were managed by 100 providers and traded across 29 exchanges in 24 countries.

Equity ETFs continued to lead in attracting inflows, drawing in $17.53bn in August and increasing their YTD net inflows to $109.03bn. Fixed income ETFs secured $5.13bn in net inflows during August, bringing their YTD total to $38.74bn, though this represents a decline from $44.81bn in 2023. Conversely, commodities ETFs experienced net outflows of $37.98m in August, contributing to YTD net outflows of $4.93bn, which is a more significant drop compared to $2.82bn in 2023. Active ETFs recorded net inflows of $2.01bn in August, elevating their YTD total to $9.58bn, a notable increase from $4.24bn last year.

The top 20 ETFs by net new assets played a crucial role in driving industry growth, collectively securing $18.77bn in August and underscoring the sector’s resilience as it moves into the latter part of the year.