Austrian leasing business drops 23 percent in 2009
The Austrian leasing market experienced a 23.2
percent decrease in new business volume last year (to €5.26
billion), according to figures just published by Austrian
leasing association Verband Österreichischer Leasing-
Gesellschaften (VÖL).
Considering cross-border business as well, the
impact was even heavier with a 33.4 percent reduction, VÖL figures
show. This was mainly due to a drop in the CEE region.
Real estate leasing business fell by 35.4
percent. The number of contracts, relatively stable during the last
few years at about 400, almost halved with 204 new contracts signed
during 2009.
Equipment leasing had a 28.3 percent drop to
€1.26 billion – mainly because firms withdrew or postponed their
new investments, VÖL said.
In detail aircraft leasing fell by 70 percent,
industrial machinery by 31 percent and vehicle leasing by 16
percent. The smaller reduction in the automotive sector mainly
depended on the scrappage scheme promoted by the Austrian
government.
The only sector that recorded an increase was
the railway sector, which rose by almost €11 million.
Regionally, the worst affected areas were
Burgenland and Salzburg (with a 48 percent decline), while Tirol
did relatively better.
VÖL forecasts a “slight upturn” in 2010,
although it expects figures to be still well below 2008 values.
Antonio Fabrizio