Informations Rapides · 22 January 2021 · n° 019

In 2019, leasing is still progressing Annual financial lease survey - year 2019

In 2019, new investments financed by leasing and by lease with purchase option (LOA) are still increasing. They have reached €37.1 billion in value, i.e. a rise of +10.3% on 2018. This amount also represents 1.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2019.

LOA activity somehow slows down but still remains dynamic with households, reaching €10.2 billion (+6.7%, after +26.1% in 2018), whereas leasing activities for businesses accelerate (+11.7% after +7.5% en 2018). Thus they total €26.9 million in 2019.

The dynamic of company leasing is mainly driven by real estate leasing (€4.9 billion, i.e. +12.5%) and even more, by the developments in equipment leasing (€18.2 million, +15.2%). LOA with businesses decreases slightly (€3.8 million, –3.4%).

In 2019, the rise in equipment leasing remained mainly driven by automotive products (+14.9% after +18.2% in 2018) and machinery and equipment (+10.2% after +10.8%). These two types of products account for nearly three quarters of the equipment leasing investments made in France. Investments in computer, electronic and optical products progress strongly (+33.9%, after a fall of 4.2% in 2018) whereas investments in other transport equipment slow down (+6.4%, after +16.1% in 2018).

In 2019, equipment leasing is mainly driven by demand from the following activities: transport and warehousing (+19.9% compared to 2018), agriculture, forestry and fishing (+31.6%), administrative and support service activities (+16.7%), construction (+14.8%) and wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+13.9%). These activities account for nearly two-thirds of the investments in equipment leasing in France.

In 2019, the rise in real estate leasing (€4.9 million, following 4.4 million in 2018) was mainly fuelled by land acquisition (+62.9% in relation to 2018) and new construction and civil engineering contracts (+13.6%), whereas building investment retracted (–17.1%). Real estate leasing for new offices was very strong (+57.2%), whereas that for factories retreated (–9.1%).

In 2019, real estate leasing was mainly driven by the demand of three activities: real estate activities (+18.9%), professional, scientific and technical activities (+27.7%) and wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+52.2%). These activities account for over two thirds of the total investment in real estate leasing in France.

In 2019, LOA contracts with companies slightly decreases (€3.8 million, i.e. -3.4% in relation to 2018). On the one hand, investments progressed in a number of activities, in particular the following ones: wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+1.8%), manufacturing (+7.7%), construction (+18.3%), professional, scientific and technical activities (+7.9%) or administrative and support service activities (+19.7%). On the other hand, demand decreased in some activities, in particular the following : financial and insurance activities (–51.4%), information and communication (–12.8%) and human health and social work (–16.2%).