Commerzbank's recent announcement of its ship-financing exit shocked the market.
Shipbuilding and shipping specialized analyst Lee Sok-Je said what Europe has in the shipping and commercial ship market is massive tonnages based on their abundant capitals, aided by European banks with many experiences in ship finance. 
However, now European banks are just about to give up their last leadership or pride.
Analyst Lee said, "Commerzbank's pulling out of ship financing market would open up the way for new runners to come. The German bank's shipping finance team will leave for a fresh home and Japanese or Singaporean banks would probably contact with them."
A bank which recruits them will bring know-hows on shipping finance, accumulated for decades by Commerzbank, and easily enter the ship finance market, monopolized by European banks.
Lee mentioned that Asian banks have already started off to advance into ship financing market and BNP's shipping finance team has been headhunted by one of Japanese banks.
He emphasized, "European countries have lost their leaderships in shipbuilding business over 60 years ago, and are at the gate of handing over their initiatives in ship finance sector to Asia."
And prospected, "After a decade, Asia will take the lead in ship financ and majority of leading banks will be Asian."
"How many of South Korean banks will be placed in upper ranks? Which domestic banks have capacity to become the top ship finance banks? What if Koreans let the opportunity slip away?"