The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) has successfully raised US$1.25 billion through a new 5-year benchmark bond issuance, marking a strong start to its 2026 funding program. The transaction generated a record order book of more than US$12.7 billion, amounting to 10x oversubscription and underscoring robust demand from a broad and diversified global investor base.
This issuance represents the OPEC Fund’s first public benchmark of 2026 and its inaugural 5-year US dollar benchmark, a significant milestone in the institution’s capital markets strategy.
Strong investor demand enabled the OPEC Fund to tighten pricing by 6 basis points from initial price thoughts, achieving a final spread of 30.8 basis points versus US Treasuries. This outcome marks the tightest spread ever achieved on an OPEC Fund transaction, despite the bond being the longest-dated US dollar issuance in the institution’s history. The bond attracted participation from 171 investors, supported by a geographically diverse distribution: 64 percent of investors came from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), 33 percent from Asia and the Pacific (APAC) and 3 per cent from the Americas. In terms of investor type: 76 percent were Central Banks & Official Institutions (CB/OI), 20 percent Asset Managers (AM), 2 percent Banks and 2 percent Others.
OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said:
“The exceptional outcome of this transaction, supported by an extremely strong order book, reflects investors’ confidence in the OPEC Fund’s credit strength and long-term strategy. Our ability to achieve record pricing outcomes is underpinned by prudent risk management, excellent capitalization and ample liquidity. This successful issuance provides an excellent start to a year in which we mark 50 years of partnership and impact in support of sustainable development worldwide.”
OPEC Fund Vice President, Finance, Tarek Sherlala commented:
“Since entering the capital markets three years ago, a 5-year US dollar benchmark has been a strategic objective for the OPEC Fund. This transaction allows us to extend our US dollar yield curve and further strengthens our capacity to deliver long-term, sustainable development impact as we continue to scale up operations in partner countries.”
OPEC Fund Assistant Treasurer & Head of Funding, Martine Mills Jansen added:
“We have invested significant effort in expanding and diversifying our investor base, particularly among buyers of longer-dated Supra/Sovereign/Agency bonds. The scale and quality of demand for this transaction, with close to US$13 billion of orders, exceeded our expectations. We are grateful to our investors and lead managers for their continued trust and support.”
The lead managers on the bond issue were BMO Capital Markets, BofA Securities, Citi, J.P. Morgan and NomuraKamini Sumra, Managing Director, SSA DCM, BofA Securities, said:
“Congratulations to the OPEC Fund team on a successful inaugural USD 5‑year benchmark. The deal garnered robust interest, resulting in the largest book ever for an OPEC Fund transaction, allowing the issuer to tighten 6bps from Initial Price Thoughts and price a $1.25bn benchmark size. This was an outstanding way to launch of the OPEC Fund’s 2026 funding program and BofA was delighted to have been involved.”
Massimo Antonelli, Managing Director, Head of International SSA, BMO Capital Markets:
“Congratulations to the OPEC Fund team for another extremely successful outing in the USD market. The USD 1.25bn 5 year was perfectly timed, with the OPEC Fund taking advantage of the strong demand backdrop to extend out to the 5 year tenor in USD for the first time and at an historic tight differential to peer MDBs. The final book in excess of $12.7 billion is another record for the OPEC Fund and underscores the great name recognition that the OPEC Fund enjoys across the global investor base. BMO is thrilled to have been a part of this offering.”
Ebba Wexler, Head of SSA DCM, Citi, said:
"Congratulations to the OPEC Fund team on their first ever USD 5-year benchmark transaction. This marks the OPEC Fund’s fifth benchmark issuance since entering the capital markets in 2023. Final books closed in excess of USD 12.7bn—more than 10 times oversubscribed—representing the largest orderbook the OPEC Fund has achieved to date, with strong participation from Central Banks and Official Institutions. This exceptional outcome highlights the robust investor following the OPEC Fund has built in a relatively short period, underscoring the strong support for the institution’s mission. Citi was delighted to be involved and is very proud to have supported all of the OPEC Fund’s issuances to date."
Sarah Lovedee, Executive Director, Head of Supranational DCM, JPMorgan, said:
“OPEC Fund's USD benchmark marks a significant milestone, not just in marking the issuer's first extension out to 5-year, but also the issuer largest-ever orderbook - while also achieving an impressive 6bps spread tightening through the bookbuilding process. The robust investor interest and quality of demand highlight OPEC Fund's growing presence and reputation in the international capital markets. Congratulations to the team on this landmark achievement.”
Spencer Dove, Managing Director, Head of SSA DCM, Nomura:
“Congratulations to the OPEC Fund team on this impressive first USD outing of the year. Taking advantage of optimal market conditions, OPEC Fund successfully printed a new $1.25bn 5-year Benchmark. The consistency and commitment to the USD market has been rewarded with a robust orderbook exceeding $12.7bn (10x covered) across over 170 accounts - a record for OPEC Fund and their tightest landing vs. Treasury ever.”
About the OPEC Fund:
The OPEC Fund is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people in low- and middle-income countries around the world. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$30 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings.