Although China’s economic growth posted continuous downturn, China’s financial leasing industry maintained fast increase since 2014, with total turnover reaching around RMB 3,420 billion ($550.0 billion)as of the end of March 2015, up about RMB 220 billion ($35.4 billion) compared to the end of 2014. The number of enterprises totaled 2,661, an increase of 459 compared to the end of 2014. The number of foreign leasing enterprises enjoyed the fastest growth, being 2,440, an increase of 420.

With respect of application segments, aviation financial leasing business presented continuous growth. As of the end of Sep. 2014, China Civil Aviation Industry had nearly 2,200 passenger planes. Among them, 1,500 planes were from leasing (including 40% of financing leasing). This was due to continuous business expansion and promotion of cross-border leasing product of banking leasing companies.

As of the end of 2014, ICBC Financial Leasing owns and manages over 420 planes, with customers covering more than 50 front-line airline companies. It has delivered 216 planes (including 213 commercial planes delivered for operation). The company’s aircraft leasing assets exceeded RMB 70 billion ($11.3 billion). China Development Bank Leasing owns 43 airline company customers (including 15 domestic tenants and 28 overseas tenants) distributed in 23 countries and regions. CDB Leasing establishes business management platforms respectively in Shenzhen (headquarter), Shanghai Free Trade Zone, Tianjin Free Trade Zone, and Ireland.

Since 2014, financing leasing of shipping industry, second only to bank lending, has become the second largest ship financing channel. In 2014, Minsheng Financial Leasing, Bank of Communications Financial Leasing and China State Shipbuilding accumulatively built more than 4 million dead weight tons of ships and contributed a large sum of orders for China’s shipbuilding industry with innovative financial model.

Due to continuous downturn in shipping industry and poor performance of enterprise, banking financial leasing companies are more and more cautious when it comes to expanding shipping business, and focus more on high-end shipbuilding industry business. Take ICBC Financial Leasing for example. Its shipping business’ main investment objects are marine engineering ships, assets from which took up 15% of total shipping business assets in 2013 and further to 51% in 2014.