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Cyprus Secures €1bn Loan Amid Unprecedented Investor Demand

Robust Investor Confidence Drives Historic Success

Cyprus recently requested a €1bn loan through a new ten‐year European Medium Term Note (EMTN) issuance to address its financing needs for 2026. Investor interest far exceeded expectations, with bids totaling nearly €16.5bn – an all‐time high in the Republic’s history of debt issuances. This overwhelming demand demonstrates the high level of confidence global and local investors have in Cyprus’s economic prospects.

Record Low Spreads and Attractive Terms

The offering achieved record benchmarks with a spread of just 44 basis points over mid-swap rates, an historic low for Cyprus. The final interest rate was fixed at 3.25%, underscoring the attractiveness of the deal. This outcome reflects well-planned economic management and solid fiscal discipline by the government, which has steadily enhanced the credit profile of the country through successive upgrades by international rating agencies.

Sound Economic Policy and Fiscal Discipline

According to the Ministry of Finance and the Office of Public Debt Management, this issuance not only significantly reduces the borrowing costs for the state but also secures uninterrupted access to international financial markets. The success is rooted in the government’s commitment to prudent fiscal policies and robust economic fundamentals that have positioned Cyprus as a reliable investment destination even amid global uncertainties.

Government Commitment to Sustainable Growth

Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos emphasized that the success of this issuance mirrors the strong market faith in Cyprus’s economic strategy. The administration remains focused on policies that promote ongoing, stable, and sustainable growth while actively decreasing public debt relative to GDP. This fiscal strategy not only unlocks additional resources for social programs but also enhances overall investor confidence, ensuring Cyprus remains competitive in attracting both domestic and foreign investments.

A Promising Outlook

The exceptional terms secured in the ten‐year bond issuance, combined with disciplined economic policies, set a promising trajectory for Cyprus. The government’s continued emphasis on fiscal discipline and strategic reforms aims to foster an environment of stability and growth, positioning the nation well to navigate future economic challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

EU Services Production Grows As Information And Communication Lead

Services production continued to expand across the European Union in August 2026, with information and communication recording the strongest annual growth. However, performance varied significantly between industries and member states, while Cyprus reported a mixed picture, with business services expanding and hospitality-related activities declining.

Information And Communication Leads Sector Growth

Compared with August 2025, services production increased by 5.9% in the euro area and 5.8% across the EU in information and communication. Transportation and storage also recorded growth, rising by 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively.

Real estate activities increased by 1.6% in the euro area and 1.1% in the EU. Professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 1% in both areas, while administrative and support services advanced by 1.1% and 1.3%.

Accommodation and food services was the only major sector to record an annual decline, falling by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU.

The monthly figures were more mixed. Information and communication remained the strongest performer, increasing by 1.2% in the euro area and 1% across the EU. Real estate activities rose by 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively, while transportation and storage edged up 0.1% in the euro area but declined by 0.2% in the EU.

Administrative and support services recorded modest gains of 0.2% in the euro area and 0.1% in the EU. Accommodation and food services fell by 0.3% and 0.4%, while professional, scientific and technical activities declined by 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively.

Slovakia And Greece Record Strongest Annual Growth

Romania recorded the largest monthly increase in services production, at 5.2%, followed by Malta at 1.8% and Portugal at 1.7%. Luxembourg experienced the steepest decline, with output falling by 5.1%, followed by Bulgaria at 2.3% and Denmark at 1.9%.

On an annual basis, Slovakia led with growth of 10%, followed by Greece at 9.3% and Malta at 7.5%. Hungary recorded the weakest performance, with services production declining by 5.6%. Denmark fell by 5.3%, while Italy recorded a smaller decrease of 0.3%.

Cyprus Sees Growth In Business Services But Weakness In Hospitality

Cyprus’ latest figures show a similar divide between expanding business services and weaker hospitality-related activities. According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat), professional, scientific and technical activities recorded the strongest annual growth among the covered sectors in the second quarter of 2026, increasing by 3.4%.

Transportation and storage and information and communication both grew by 2.1%, while real estate activities rose by 1.6%. In contrast, accommodation and food services declined by 3.1% year on year, and administrative and support services fell by 2.2%.

First-half results were more favourable for several sectors. Between January and June, professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 3.5%, transportation and storage by 2.8%, real estate by 2.1% and information and communication by 1.3%.

Nevertheless, administrative and support services contracted by 1% over the six-month period, while accommodation and food services declined by 0.7%.

How Cyprus’ Figures Differ From Eurostat’s Data

The Eurostat and Cystat figures measure different aspects of economic activity and are not directly comparable. Eurostat’s services production index tracks changes in the volume of output, whereas Cystat’s Turnover Value Index for Services and Transport measures the value of sales at current prices.

The reporting periods also differ: Eurostat’s figures cover August, while the cited Cypriot data relate to the second quarter and first half of 2026.

Cystat transmits services production data to Eurostat but does not yet publish a separate national production index. Turnover figures therefore remain the main publicly available national indicator for the sector.

Taken together, the data point to continued growth in several of Cyprus’ business-oriented services, alongside persistent pressure on accommodation, food and administrative support activities.

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