The latest data has arrived: the leasing market did well last year, but the outlook is uncertain

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 02. 20. 11:53

In 2023, the number of lease contracts concluded increased compared to the previous year, and the amount of money placed also increased. According to the Hungarian Leasing Association, the main driver of the market in the last quarter of last year was the improving interest rate environment. At the same time, as Secretary General László Kőszegi also pointed out: the Association is cautiously looking at the coming months, as the desire to invest has significantly decreased in Hungary, and the liquidity situation of households and businesses has deteriorated overall. The state-supported constructions, which will continue in the first half of 2024, but are uncertain after that, also played a huge role in last year’s growth.

After many years, the number of leasing contracts concluded in 2023 increased compared to the previous year, and last year there was also an increase in the amount of placements among the members of the Hungarian Leasing Association. Based on the Association’s fourth quarter report, the value of placements was HUF 909.46 billion, which represents a 5.5 percent increase compared to 2022 – and excluding real estate market contracts, the increase was 13.5 percent.

The contracted number was 72,330, which is 2.6 percent more than in 2022. The total displayed portfolio rose to HUF 2,140 billion, which means an increase of 5.5 percent compared to the previous year, but the number of units in stock decreased by a similar amount to only 342,946 units.

According to the distribution of the financed amounts, 66 percent of the customers of leasing providers are SMEs, and 16 percent are large companies. The proportion of private individuals reached only 6.3 percent.