Catastrophe Bond Market Sets $11.3 Billion Q2 Issuance Record as Outstanding Volume Hits $65.6 Billion
Updated
Updated · Artemis.bm · Jul 14
Catastrophe Bond Market Sets $11.3 Billion Q2 Issuance Record as Outstanding Volume Hits $65.6 Billion
1 articles · Updated · Artemis.bm · Jul 14
Summary
$11.3 billion of Rule 144A catastrophe bonds were issued in Q2 2026, making it the market’s biggest quarter on record and topping the prior high of about $10.45 billion.
Issuance outpaced a significant maturity wall, lifting total outstanding catastrophe bonds tracked by Artemis to a record nearly $65.6 billion by quarter-end.
May alone produced $6.93 billion of issuance, while Q2 logged 48 transactions and 20 May settlements—both new activity records for the market.
Nine first-time sponsors entered in Q2, surpassing the previous record of eight and extending the sponsor base as insurers and reinsurers added cat-bond-backed reinsurance for mid-year renewals.
The surge reinforces catastrophe bonds’ role as a core global risk-transfer tool, with participants expecting further market growth in H2 2026 if issuance stays strong.