Chinese lessors unknown in the western market will form part of the next wave in the market, Standard Chartered says.
Lessors such as ICBC Leasing, which has a $7bn shipping book spanning over 250 vessels, have played an increasingly important role in the industry of late.
Nigel Anton, head of ship finance at Standard Chartered, told a Marine Money conference in London today: “They will be here in force and now we are in the next phase of the Chinese leasing story where they are deleveraging.
“They were very active in dong transactions in the past two years and now they have come into the bank market to deleverage. That is happening.”
He added: “There are a lot of leasing companies you have not heard of yet. You will see them in Asia but not in Europe.
“We are in the next phase of Chinese leasing, they are certainly coming and they will come. They themselves are maturing and thinking outside the original box. Joint ventures, for example, they like that.”
