Leasing market, over 3.3bn euros in 9 months

The companies belonging to the two professional associations in the sector, ALB and ASLR, which control almost 97% of the market, had released financing worth almost 3.19 billion euros by late September.
During this period, the companies that are part of ALB (The Leasing and Non-banking Financial Services Association) financed the acquisition of goods worth more than 2.46 billion euros, while the members of ASLR (Association of Romanian Leasing Companies) granted financing standing at 725 million euros. From the similar period of last year, the market has expanded by 42 percent.
“The diversity of financing granted to national economy sectors is emphasised by the fact that 21% of the overall financing volume were aimed at industrial equipment, 7% at the real estate sector and 72% at the transportation sector,” said the representatives of the two leasing associations.
Financing released for the transportation sector in the first nine months of this year stands at almost 2.3 billion euros, with 53% of these funds being used for the acquisition of cars, 28% to purchase heavy commercial vehicles, 17% for light commercial vehicles and the rest for other types of vehicles.
Industrial equipment financing amounted to 666 million euros in the first nine months of this year, while the real estate sector benefited from loans worth 228 million euros.
“Real estate financing is dominated by the category of industrial and commercial buildings, with a total of 51 percent, while A, B and C-class office space account for 36% and the rest of 13% is represented by the housing sector and the sector of apartment buildings,” state ALB and ASLR officials. Corporate customers contracted the largest part of financing released during the first three quarters of this year, with the rest of loans being aimed at natural persons (15 percent) and the public sector (3 percent).
The leasing market is controlled by companies affiliated to banks. At the end of September these held a 64% market share. Independent companies hold 26% of the market, while captive companies hold a 10% share.
The latest data provided by the two leasing associations shows financial leasing accounts for 98 percent of the total market, while the rest of financing is released in the form of operational leasing or cross-border leasing.