The leasing market in Poland grew by 10.8% year on year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching PLN 29.2 billion and confirming the sector’s stable upward trend.
The vehicle segment remained the main driver of the market, with particularly strong growth recorded in the financing of heavy vehicles, up 19% year on year. Machinery and equipment financing increased at a more moderate pace of 8.8%, with clear differences between individual categories. Strong growth in some areas contrasted with declines, including in agriculture.
Poland’s leasing industry maintained positive growth momentum. In Q1 2026, leasing companies financed corporate investments worth a total of PLN 29.2 billion, representing a 10.8% year-on-year increase.
Financing through leasing loans grew much faster than traditional leasing. Its value rose by 29% to PLN 4.6 billion. Leasing, however, remained the dominant form of financing, with assets financed in this way reaching PLN 24.6 billion, up 7.9% year on year.
“The first quarter of 2026 confirms the stable development of the leasing industry and its important role in financing corporate investment. The heavy transport segment stands out particularly positively, as it is strongly linked to economic activity and trade,” said Monika Constant, President of the Polish Leasing Association.
Light vehicles slightly higher
Vehicles continued to account for the largest share of the market, representing three quarters of corporate investments financed by leasing companies in Poland. The value of this segment reached PLN 22.1 billion, up 12.1% year on year.
Within this category, financing of light vehicles, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, amounted to PLN 16.5 billion. This represented growth of 10.1% year on year and accounted for 56.5% of the entire leasing market.
“2026 began with moderate growth in the leasing of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, accompanied by a clear rebound in the loan segment. We are seeing momentum accelerate in subsequent months. In March, growth was significantly higher than in January and February and also exceeded the pace observed at the end of 2025. As in previous quarters, financing of passenger cars is growing faster than that of light commercial vehicles. We assume that the continued strong dynamics of household spending in 2026 will continue to support demand for light vehicles in Poland,” said Marcin Nieplowicz, chief economist at EFL and the Polish Leasing Association.
Heavy vehicles accelerate
The heavy vehicle segment developed at a faster pace, showing a clear recovery. Its value reached PLN 5.4 billion, representing growth of 19% year on year.
This was the second consecutive month of solid growth. After an 18.6% year-on-year increase in February, momentum accelerated to 32.0% year on year in March, following a much weaker start to the year and the end of 2025.
Truck tractors deserve particular attention, as they continued to maintain very strong growth for another month. This was partly due to a low base effect, but the positive impact of stabilisation in the eurozone economy was also visible.
At the same time, financing of trailers declined, while the segment of trucks above 3.5 tonnes recorded strong growth, indicating a greater role for domestic demand. According to Marcin Nieplowicz, results in the segment in the coming months will largely depend on the geopolitical situation, in particular developments in the Middle East.
Machinery rebounds
Machinery and equipment remained the second-largest segment after vehicles. Financing in this category reached PLN 6.4 billion, representing a 22.3% market share and growth of 8.8% year on year.
The segment recorded a clear recovery in March 2026, with significant year-on-year growth after earlier declines at the beginning of the year and moderate momentum at the end of 2025.
“Until February, clear declines were visible in the financing of construction equipment and agricultural machinery, while March brought a reversal of this trend: positive results in the agricultural segment and very strong growth in construction machinery and other machinery. These increases were largely driven by loan financing, with more moderate leasing growth. The quarterly declines in agricultural machinery financing are the result of deteriorating sentiment among farms, particularly lower assessments of business profitability, as well as a high base from the previous year,” said Marcin Nieplowicz.
Financing by asset category
Vehicles: PLN 22.1 billion, up 12.1% year on year, including light vehicles at PLN 16.5 billion, up 10.1%; heavy vehicles at PLN 5.4 billion, up 19.0%; and other vehicles at PLN 0.2 billion, up 5.9%.
Machinery and equipment reached PLN 6.4 billion, up 8.8% year on year. Other movable assets amounted to PLN 0.7 billion, up 9.1%. Real estate financing stood at PLN 0.01 billion, down 91.9% year on year.
2026 outlook
The Polish Leasing Association estimates that in 2026 the value of investments financed by the leasing industry may reach PLN 129.7 billion, which would represent growth of around 9% year on year.
The forecast assumes stable investment activity among companies and the continued important role of leasing as a tool for financing the development of the Polish economy. According to the association, 2026 should be a period of intensified investment, supported by the accumulation of EU funds from the National Recovery Plan and the 2021–2027 financial perspective.
Investment expenditure financed from EU funds is estimated at around PLN 182 billion, compared with around PLN 63 billion in 2025. Such a significant increase is expected to provide a strong impulse for private investment, including in the SME sector, and should consequently have a positive impact on the development of the leasing market.
“After moderate results at the beginning of 2026, we observed a clear acceleration in momentum in March. This was partly a rebound after weaker months, which were affected by factors including weather conditions and the calendar layout, but also a signal of growing investment demand, especially among larger enterprises. In the coming quarters, we expect strong consumer demand, the launch of EU funds and a gradual improvement in exports to support more pronounced growth in corporate investment financing by the leasing industry in 2026,” said Monika Constant, President of the Polish Leasing Association.
