Eurex marks 15 years in Asia with expansion plans ahead

Derivatives exchange Eurex is marking a 15-year milestone in Singapore while charting a new growth trajectory across the Asia-Pacific region. The exchange has evolved from a representative office to a full branch operation serving as the regional hub for sales and market support functions.

Eurex established its initial Asian presence to introduce European investment opportunities to market participants in the region. Strong demand for portfolio diversification among Asian investors drove this expansion, with Europe offering an alternative to historically dominant U.S. markets. The exchange now operates offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan, with additional staffing in Australia and India.

Building partnerships and expanding offerings

Early growth came through collaboration with regional exchanges, including Korea Exchange (KRX) and Taiwan Futures Exchange (TAIFEX), to facilitate overnight trading of key contracts. This partnership approach helped establish Eurex as a significant player in Asia-Pacific derivatives markets.

The product range has broadened considerably over the 15 years. As of May 2026, the exchange counts 39 active direct members from Asia. The MSCI product suite exemplifies this expansion, with Eurex now offering contracts on 25 MSCI indexes relevant to Asia-Pacific investors, comprising 25 futures and five options contracts available during extended trading hours.

A notable success is the MSCI Korea Index Futures contract, launched in July 2025, which has generated nearly 228,000 traded lots and accumulated open interest approaching USD 4 billion. The MSCI EM Asia Index Futures contract, introduced in 2013, has seen 823,000 lots traded year-to-date in 2026.

Extended hours trading as growth catalyst

A pivotal development came in 2018 when Eurex extended trading to 21 hours daily for benchmark and MSCI products. Previously, Asian clients had to wait for European market hours to access many contracts. Since this expansion, the region has traded more than 104.7 million lots, demonstrating robust demand for round-the-clock access to global markets.

Market composition has evolved significantly. Hedge funds remain prominent participants, particularly in Singapore and Hong Kong, where new funds and trading desks continue emerging. Retail participation has grown markedly since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Korea and Taiwan. Asset managers and institutional investors increasingly seek sophisticated derivatives-based solutions beyond passive allocation strategies.

Future strategic direction

Looking ahead, Eurex identifies three primary growth priorities: continuing to promote European markets across equities, fixed income, credit, and swaps to Asian investors; developing Asian-focused products for regional clients, with particular emphasis on Japanese single-stock derivatives; and expanding retail offerings in markets like Taiwan and Korea where retail participation remains substantial.