Asset finance up 16% in June

16 August 2017

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 16% in June, compared with the same month last year, and by 12% in the second quarter of 2017 overall.

The plant and machinery finance and IT equipment finance sectors reported new business up in June by 37% and 17% respectively, compared with the same month in 2016. Over the same period, new finance for commercial vehicles and business equipment grew by 9% and 6% respectively.

Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:

“The asset finance market reported its sixth consecutive month of growth in June, with new business in the first half of 2017 up by 11% compared with the same period in 2016.

“The plant and machinery finance sector has seen particularly strong growth in 2017 so far. In the first six months of 2017, new asset finance for construction and agricultural equipment grew by 34% and 28% respectively, while production and processing plant finance increased by 29%.”

 

June 2017

% change on prev. year

3 months to June 2017

% change on prev. year

12 months to June 2017

% change on prev. year

Total FLA asset finance (£m)

3,133

+16

8,474

+12

31,809

+8

Total excluding high value (£m)

3,085

+17

8,160

+9

30,442

+8

             

Data Extracts:

By asset:

           

Plant and machinery finance (£m)

729

+37

1,801

+25

6,456

+12

Commercial vehicle finance (£m)

718

+9

1,905

+2

7,527

+4

IT equipment finance (£m)

258

+17

552

+1

2,242

-3

Business equipment finance (£m)

274

+6

684

+8

2,530

+14

Car finance (£m)

944

+9

2,759

+10

9,724

+7

Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)

14

-10

287

+172

730

+58

By channel:

           

Direct finance (£m)

1,614

+19

4,242

+8

15,492

+7

Broker-introduced finance (£m)

490

+9

1,452

+12

5,700

+17

Sales finance (£m)

982

+17

2,467

+10

9,250

+4

By product:

           

Finance leasing (£m)

385

+8

999

+1

4,018

-2

Operating leasing (£m)

684

+16

1,971

+16

7,065

+7

Lease/Hire purchase (£m)

1,591

+11

4,466

+11

16,508

+10

Other finance (£m)

473

+52

1,038

+27

4,219

+16

Note to editors:

  1. In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £30 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed almost a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2016.
  2. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

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