The report has become the definitive analysis of country trading environments and world trends in auto and asset leasing and White Clarke Group is proud that this is the 10th year that the report has been featured as the keynote commentary of the World Leasing Yearbook. The 2016 edition has just been launched and is available as a free download. Ed White, President & CEO White Clarke Group, author of the report summarizes the tenor of the latest edition.

For the fourth consecutive year since the global economic crisis, the leasing industry has enjoyed growth in new business volumes, and the outlook is cautiously optimistic.

The top 50 countries reported 6.83% growth in the value of new contracts closed in 2014, from $883.96bn in 2013 to $944.31bn. Three regions, North America, Europe and Asia account for more than 80% of world volume, and together almost matched the previous year’s global total for new business leasing and hire purchase.

Latin America, measured by portfolio value (the only readily available data for most countries in the region) exhibited positive growth in 2014, 18.7% in US dollars.

For the Australia/New Zealand region we have now encompassed chattel mortgage transactions into their results. Comparing performance with the previous year, the region experience growth in new business of 4.0% in the local currency, and remained broadly static when expressed in US dollars.

All eyes are turned to Asia, where China’s burgeoning leasing industry is fueling market growth. In 2014, China reported an increase of 31.06% in new business volume. However, in 2015 that figure is expected to have plateaued amidst the economic slowdown.

With such uncertainty, the outlook in all six regions is one of just cautious optimism. To read the full report, click here.

The Global Leasing Report features data on international leasing volume and growth by region, market penetration, GDP penetration ratios and market shares as well as a unique ranking of the top 50 leasing markets by size. The White Clarke Group Global Leasing Report is prepared by White Clarke Group in association with the World Leasing Yearbook.