The Business Times
business-time-50

South-east Asia’s ESG bond issuance extends decline with 75% drop in Q2 2025

Environmental, social and governance loans see a smaller decrease, with funds raised dipping 7.6% to US$7.7 billion

Summarise
Janice Lim

Janice Lim

Published Mon, Sep 22, 2025 · 07:00 AM
    • The decline in ESG bond proceeds in South-east Asia is somewhat of an outlier.
    • The decline in ESG bond proceeds in South-east Asia is somewhat of an outlier. PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN, BT

    [SINGAPORE] Proceeds raised from environmental, social and governance (ESG) bonds in South-east Asia fell sharply in the second quarter of 2025, extending its year on year decline for the second straight quarter.

    ESG bond proceeds fell 74.8 per cent to US$1.6 billion in the three months to June 2025, compared with US$6.2 billion in the same period a year earlier, according to financial data provided by LSEG.

    ESG loans performed better, with funds raised dropping 7.6 per cent to US$7.7 billion from US$8.4 billion over the same period.

    green bondsGreen LoansESGsustainable finance

    TRENDING NOW

    From left: Pham Nhat Quan Anh, Pham Nhat Vuong, Pham Thu Huong and Pham Nhat Minh Hoang. The couple (centre) remain senior figures in Vingroup, with their children’s presence in the ecosystem growing.

    He built the Vingroup empire. Now South-east Asia’s richest man is handing some key roles to his sons

    Asian investors continue to allocate capital to global markets, while maintaining significant exposure to US assets. 

    Despite the de-dollarisation debate, demand for dollar liquidity in Asia is growing

    Buying a new EC unit can be a cost-effective way to get into private homeownership.

    Can a first-time homebuyer couple earning S$18,000 a month afford a new EC unit?

    The Golden Violet oil tanker docked at a PT Pertamina facility in Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia. Asia’s new energy security architecture should have a support mechanism to help Asian countries build emergency oil reserves through financing and technical assistance.

    Asia needs new energy security architecture

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More