Deutsche's db x-trackers adds ETFs to meet demand

* Plans 30 new products by year-end

* Inflows some of the strongest in Europe in H1

* Expects to have 150 ETFs in 2009, 200 in 2010

* Number of European ETFs unlikely to top 1,000

* Sector consolidation likely mid-term

FRANKFURT, July 14 (Reuters) - Europe's third-largest exchange traded fund (ETF) provider, Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) unit db x-trackers, plans to launch 30 new products before the end of 2009 to take advantage of strong demand.

"What is interesting for the industry is not only that last year but also so far this year the European ETF industry has been extremely successful, with a bit under 10 billion euros ($14 billion) in inflows over the first half," Thorsten Michalik, head of db x-trackers, said on on Tuesday.

ETFs are investment vehicles built to mirror benchmarks such as the DAX .GDAXI or the DJ Eurostoxx50 index. As passively managed index-trackers, ETFs carry less risk and often lower costs for investors than actively managed stock-picker funds.

Db x-trackers had roughly 21.1 billion euros in assets under management as of July 9, and its asset inflows of 2.73 billion euros so far in 2009 were the second largest among European ETF providers, according to data from Barclays Global Investors.

It is the third biggest ETF provider in Europe by assets under management, behind European and world leader iShares, a unit of Barclays Global Investors (BARC.L), and Societe Generale's (SOGN.PA) Lyxor Asset Management.

Michalik said db x-trackers will have around 150 products on offer at the end of 2009 and likely have 200 by 2010.

One of two products to be rolled out this week offers socially-minded investors an ETF comprising stocks in the S&P U.S. Carbon Efficient index .SPGRCU, which Michalik said had both social-responsible criteria and a correlation of more than a 99 percent to the S&P 500 .GSPC.

Db x-tracker's goal is to provide coverage comprising core ETFs, satellite ETFs, and all asset classes. Michalik said 200 products might be near the upper limit of what was needed.

ETF OFFERINGS EXPECTED TO TOP OUT

Michalik said 1,000 would be a reasonable ceiling to expect for the number of ETFs from European providers in the near future, up from around 600 now.

While he expected new ETFs, many from new names to the industry, he said not all would last the course and he expected numbers to thin out on a 1-2 year timeframe.

Michalik said despite strong asset inflows, some ETF providers would likely start looking at their product portfolios and decide it might be better to leave the sector altogether rather than limit their ETF offerings.

"It depends on what type of fund you have, but it costs around 70,000-150,000 euros to keep an ETF going," he said.

ETF trade, however, remains strong. According to Reuters data around 11 percent of total trade in European stock markets in the first half of 2009 was handled through ETFs.

Deutsche Bank data shows that even more trade is being handled off exchange and around 40 percent of total ETF trade volume is over the counter. (Editing by Dan Lalor) ($1 = 0.7149 euro)