CapitaLand Retail China reports bumper quarter

CapitaLand Retail China Trust has had a bumper quarter to September, its distributable income rising 14.2 per cent year on year.

CRCT is the only China shopping mall Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) based in Singapore, with a portfolio of 10 shopping malls located in Mainland China.

CapitaLand Retail China Trust Management, which manages CRCT, says it achieved a distributable income of S$22.3 million for the period. Distribution per unit (DPU) was 2.64 cents, an increase of 12.3 per cent over a year ago.

Chairman Victor Liew said China’s economy expanded 6.9 per cent year on year in both the third quarter and the first nine months of 2015, while retail sales in the first nine months of 2015 increased 10.5 per cent to RMB21.6 trillion.

“With the Chinese government reiterating its commitment to rebalance its economy by driving domestic consumption, CRCT remains upbeat about China’s retail growth prospects.”

CEO Tony Tan, CEO of CRCTML, said that during the quarter, the trust’s portfolio of malls registered 9.1 per cent growth in net property income as it benefitted from a favourable exchange rate.

“Rental reversion for the quarter continued to be strong at 10.9 per cent, with the majority of our malls registering double digit growth. Portfolio occupancy as at 30 September 2015 was 94.8 per cent, while tenants’ sales and shopper traffic for the quarter increased 12.7 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively year-on year.”

The trust’s malls are CapitaMall Xizhimen, CapitaMall Wangjing, CapitaMall Grand Canyon, CapitaMall Shuangjing and CapitaMall Anzhen in Beijing; CapitaMall Qibao in Shanghai; CapitaMall Erqi in Zhengzhou, Henan Province; CapitaMall Saihan in Huhhot, Inner Mongolia; CapitaMall Wuhu in Wuhu, Anhui Province; and CapitaMall Minzhongleyuan in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

“We continue to refresh and improve the trade mix within our multi-tenanted malls,” said Tan.

“CapitaMall Xizhimen is adding more children-related products and services to cater to growing demand from young families with children. A section of the mall’s Level 3 will be reconfigured into a vibrant kids’ zone and new tenants catering to the varied needs of children, such as apparel stores and enrichment schools, will be added.

“On the asset enhancement front, CapitaMall Wangjing will be commencing upgrading works to its façade in the coming months, and CapitaMall Grand Canyon is currently undertaking renovation works to improve its common amenities. All these initiatives will further enhance the overall appeal and shopping experience at our malls.”