NEW HISTORICAL RECORDS IN FACTORING AND RENTING, AND THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATE IN LEASING

ALF has released the 2024 statistics for the three sectors it represents, showing sustained growth. The three segments ended the year with gains ranging from 3.4% in the value of receivables under Factoring, to 13.6% in the value of new vehicles under Renting, to 19.9% in the increase of Leasing investments, consolidating the importance of Leasing, Factoring and Renting in supporting companies and individuals.

"Specialized finance is once again demonstrating its resilience and relevance to the national economy. In 2024, despite the economic challenges of major European countries such as France and Germany, and global uncertainty, we recorded sustained and continuous growth in the sectors we represent," says Luís Augusto, president of ALF. “The results achieved confirm the crucial role of Leasing, Factoring and Renting in supporting economic development and the modernization of Portuguese companies.”

Vehicle and Equipment Leasing exceeded two billion euros in value for the first time, reaching 2.15 billion euros - an increase of 15.2%. Vehicles accounted for the largest share of this figure, with 32,417 light vehicles financed for 948 million euros, and 5,395 heavy vehicles, for a total of 579 million euros. In total, vehicle financing represents more than 70% of Vehicle and Equipment leasing, while equipment amounted to 629 million euros. Real estate leasing saw an impressive growth of 32.8%, totaling 911 million euros. 

In total, leasing exceeded 3 billion euros in financed assets and was the fastest growing product in 2024, at 19.9%.

Meanwhile, Renting has established itself as the preferred solution for managing company and private fleets. In 2024, 38,634 new light vehicles were put into circulation on Portuguese roads, totaling almost 1.2 billion euros in new contracts - an increase of 7.2% and 13.6%, respectively, compared to the previous year. This higher evolution in the value of the vehicles is partly due to the increase in the average value per vehicle, driven by the growing adoption of electrified vehicles and inflation in the automotive sector. Renting hybrid and electric vehicles continues to strengthen its role in decarbonizing mobility.

The total fleet managed through Renting reached 2.82 billion euros in value, a growth of 13.4% compared to 2023, with 136,965 light vehicles in circulation, of which more than 80% are in the passenger category.

Factoring continued its upward trend in corporate treasury management, reaching a total of 45.7 billion euros in receivables, a new production record for the sector, and year-on-year growth of 3.4%. The factoring sector grew in all its forms: domestic, international and confirming. 

The biggest growth was recorded in Confirming, which manages companies' payments to their suppliers, with an increase of 6.2%, translating into an increase of 1,240 million euros, surpassing 21 billion euros in receivables for the first time. International Factoring was responsible for taking on 5.8 billion euros, of which 5.3 billion related to national exports, and grew by 2.1% in 2024.