SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

OR

Commission file number 0-23886

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

One Front Street, Suite 925, San Francisco, California 94111
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(415) 677-8990
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X]. No [   ].

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes [   ]. No [X].

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant is not applicable.

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period
Ended March 31, 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Presented herein are the Registrant’s condensed balance sheets as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, condensed statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, and condensed statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, (collectively the “Financial Statements”) prepared by the Registrant without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principals generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Registrant believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information present not misleading. It is suggested that these Financial Statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Registrant’s December 31, 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. These Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of the Registrant and Cronos Capital Corp., the general partner, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods. The statements of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year.

The information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect the current view of the Registrant with respect to future events and financial performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Registrant’s control. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this report, including the statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” regarding the Registrant’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of the Registrant are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, the words “will”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. The Registrant does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although the Registrant believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements made in this report are reasonable, the Registrant can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Future economic and industry trends that could potentially impact revenues and profitability are difficult to predict.

3

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Condensed Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Condensed Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

6

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

(1)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)		Nature of Operations
		Cronos Global Income Fund XV, L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of California on November 26, 1993, for the purpose of owning and leasing marine cargo containers, special purpose containers and container related equipment worldwide to ocean carriers. To this extent, the Partnership’s operations are subject to the fluctuations of world economic and political conditions. Such factors may affect the pattern and levels of world trade. The Partnership believes that the profitability of, and risks associated with, leases to foreign customers is generally the same as those of leases to domestic customers. The Partnership’s leases generally require all payments to be made in United States currency.
		Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”) is the general partner and, with its affiliate Cronos Containers Limited (the “Leasing Company”), manages the business of the Partnership. CCC and the Leasing Company also manage the container leasing business for other partnerships affiliated with CCC. The Partnership shall continue until December 31, 2012, unless sooner terminated upon the occurrence of certain events.
		The Partnership commenced operations on February 22, 1994, when the minimum subscription proceeds of $2,000,000 were received from over 100 subscribers (excluding from such count Pennsylvania residents, the general partner, and all affiliates of the general partner). The Partnership offered 7,500,000 units of limited partnership interest at $20 per unit or $150,000,000. The offering terminated on December 15, 1995, at which time 7,151,569 limited partnership units had been sold.
(b)		Leasing Company and Leasing Agent Agreement
		A Leasing Agent Agreement exists between the Partnership and the Leasing Company, whereby the Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Partnership. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing and re-leasing the Partnership’s containers to ocean carriers, and has full discretion over which ocean carriers and suppliers of goods and services it may deal with. The Leasing Agent Agreement permits the Leasing Company to use the containers owned by the Partnership, together with other containers owned or managed by the Leasing Company and its affiliates, as part of a single fleet operated without regard to ownership. Since the Leasing Agent Agreement meets the definition of an operating lease in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 13, it is accounted for as a lease under which the Partnership is lessor and the Leasing Company is lessee.
		The Leasing Agent Agreement generally provides that the Leasing Company will make payments to the Partnership based upon rentals collected from ocean carriers after deducting direct operating expenses and management fees to CCC and the Leasing Company. The Leasing Company leases containers to ocean carriers, generally under operating leases which are either master leases or term leases (mostly one to five years). Master leases do not specify the exact number of containers to be leased or the term that each container will remain on hire but allow the ocean carrier to pick up and drop off containers at various locations, and rentals are based upon the number of containers used and the applicable per-diem rate. Accordingly, rentals under master leases are all variable and contingent upon the number of containers used. Most containers are leased to ocean carriers under master leases; leasing agreements with fixed payment terms are not material to the financial statements. Since there are no material minimum lease rentals, no disclosure of minimum lease rentals is provided in these financial statements.

(Continued)

7

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

(c)		Basis of Accounting
		The Partnership utilizes the accrual method of accounting. Net lease revenue is recorded by the Partnership in each period based upon its leasing agent agreement with the Leasing Company. Net lease revenue is generally dependent upon operating lease rentals from operating lease agreements between the Leasing Company and its various lessees, less direct operating expenses and management fees due in respect of the containers specified in each operating lease agreement.
(d)		Container Rental Equipment
		In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” container rental equipment is considered to be impaired if the carrying value of the asset exceeds the expected future cash flows from related operations (undiscounted and without interest charges). If impairment is deemed to exist, the assets are written down to fair value. An analysis is prepared each quarter projecting future cash flows from container rental equipment operations. Current and projected utilization rates, per-diem rental rates, direct operating expenses, fleet size and container disposals are the primary variables utilized by the analysis. Additionally, the Partnership evaluates future cash flows and potential impairment by container type rather than for each individual container, and as a result, future losses could result for individual container dispositions due to various factors, including age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as the geographical location of containers when disposed. There were no impairment charges to the carrying value of container rental equipment for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.
		Depreciation policies are also evaluated to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives. Container rental equipment is depreciated using the straight-line basis.
(e)		Use of Estimates
		The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), which requires the Partnership to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
		The most significant estimates included within the financial statements are the container rental equipment estimated useful lives and residual values, and the estimate of future cash flows from container rental equipment operations, used to determine the adequacy of the carrying value of container rental equipment in accordance with SFAS No. 144. Considerable judgment is required in estimating future cash flows from container rental equipment operations. Accordingly, the estimates may not be indicative of the amounts that may be realized in future periods. As additional information becomes available in subsequent periods, reserves for the impairment of the container rental equipment carrying values may be necessary based upon changes in market and economic conditions.

(Continued)

8

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

(f)		Financial Statement Presentation
		These financial statements have been prepared without audit pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Registrant believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes in the Partnership’s December 31, 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
		The interim financial statements presented herewith reflect in the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal recurring necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

(2)		Net Lease Receivables Due from Leasing Company
		Net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company are determined by deducting direct operating payables and accrued expenses, base management fees payable, and reimbursed administrative expenses payable to CCC and its affiliates from the rental billings earned by the Leasing Company under operating leases to ocean carriers for the containers owned by the Partnership, as well as proceeds earned from container disposals. Net lease receivables at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were as follows:

(Continued)

9

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

(3)		Net Lease Revenue
		Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses, base management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses to CCC and its affiliates from the rental revenue earned by the Leasing Company under operating leases to ocean carriers for the containers owned by the Partnership. Net lease revenue for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

(4)		Operating Segment
		An operating segment is a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and about which separate financial information is available. The Leasing Company operates the Partnership’s container fleet as a homogenous unit and has determined that as such it has a single reportable operating segment.
		The Partnership derives its revenues from dry cargo, refrigerated and tank containers used by its customers in global trade routes. As of March 31, 2004, the Partnership operated 23,474 twenty-foot, 8,200 forty-foot and 2,066 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 457 twenty-foot and 99 forty-foot high-cube refrigerated cargo containers, and 221 twenty-four thousand-liter tanks. A summary of gross lease revenue, by product, for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 follows:

Due to the Partnership’s lack of information regarding the physical location of its fleet of containers when on lease in the global shipping trade, the Partnership believes that it does not possess discernible geographic reporting segments as defined in SFAS No. 131 (“SFAS 131”), “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.”

10

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of the Registrant’s historical financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Registrant’s December 31, 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.

General

A Leasing Agent Agreement exists between the Registrant and the Leasing Company, whereby the Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Registrant. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing and re-leasing the Registrant’s containers to ocean carriers, and has full discretion over which ocean carriers and suppliers of goods and services it may deal with. The Leasing Agent Agreement permits the Leasing Company to use the containers owned by the Registrant, together with other containers owned or managed by the Leasing Company and its affiliates, as part of a single fleet operated without regard to ownership. At March 31, 2004, 90% of the original equipment remained in the Registrant’s fleet, as compared to 91% at December 31, 2003. The following chart summarizes the composition of the Registrant’s fleet (based on container type) at March 31, 2004.

A general surge in trade volumes during the three-month period ending March 31, 2004 contributed to robust container leasing market conditions and high levels of demand for new and existing containers. The Registrant’s own dry cargo containers utilization measured 88% at March 31, 2004, compared to 85% at December 31, 2003.

Industry analysts report that the surge in trade volumes exasperated operational inefficiencies within the world’s ports and railroads, contributing to congestion and the absorption of containers from the shipment chain as turnaround times for containers increased. Additionally, the production of additional, new containers was hampered by steel shortages, affecting the container manufacturers’ ability to meet the increase in demand. China’s rise in foreign investment, trade revenues and consumer spending has resulted in high levels of spending on infrastructure projects and industrial production, and accordingly, the consumption of large quantities of steel, aluminum and other raw materials. This shortage of steel and other raw materials has had implications for the container leasing and shipping industries. Container manufacturers were forced to reduce the level of container production, and as a result, fewer new containers were available to meet the increase in demand, resulting in an increase in container prices. The price of a new twenty-foot dry cargo container increased from $1,350 in the fourth quarter of 2003 to $2,000 in the first quarter of 2004. Also contributing to the drastic rise in container prices were increases in the price of steel, primarily due to increases in the cost of steel components, iron ore and coke. A

(Continued)

11

number of major leasing companies and shipping lines have reported that the combination of rising container prices and manufacturer production shortages will result in lower container acquisition targets for 2004.

The increase in demand for containers, combined with the reduction in new container production, has contributed to reducing off-hire inventories of existing, older containers throughout the world, as shipping lines employed leased containers to meet their container requirements. The strong demand has also resulted in many leasing companies delaying and canceling their container disposal programs. Should the price of new containers decline or the level of new container production increase, the demand for existing older containers, such as those owned by the Registrant, could diminish.

Per-diem rates for new containers are rising in line with the increase in new container costs. Industry analysts are predicting per-diem rates for existing fleets of containers to also increase for the duration of the steel and container supply shortages. The opinion of the analysts is divided on whether the steel shortage will correct in the second half of 2004 or whether it will be long term in nature. Although per-diem rates are predicted to increase for existing fleets of containers, such as those owned by the Registrant, actual increases will not be realized until a significant number of the Leasing Company’s sub-leases with the shipping lines expire and are renegotiated at higher per-diem rates. The Registrant’s average dry cargo container per-diem rate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004 declined approximately 2% in comparison to the same period in the prior year, however, this average per-diem rate was consistent with the average per-diem rate realized for the three-month period ended December 31, 2003.

Although favorable market conditions currently exist for container lessors, the container shortages and their rising costs may negatively impact the shipping lines. Although shipping lines have experienced an increase in freight rates in line with strong demand on major trade routes, particularly the Asia to Europe and Asia to US routes, shipping lines are under financial pressures. Sharply rising charter rates for ships, combined with the rise in steel prices, the related increase in new container prices, and rising costs associated with implementing higher levels of security within the shipping industry have created a concern for both the shipping lines and leasing companies. Current conditions appear to favor the larger more established shipping lines, which have witnessed strong recoveries in their performance over the last few years. The Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company remain cautious, and continue to monitor the aging of lease receivables, collections and the credit exposure to various existing and new customers. The financial impact of losses from these shipping lines may eventually influence the demand for leased containers, as some shipping lines may experience additional financial difficulties, consolidate, or become insolvent. The ultimate outcome, as well as its impact on the container leasing industry and the Registrant’s results of operations is unknown, however CCC, on behalf of the Registrant, believes that its leasing strategies will assist in reducing these risks.

Lastly, wide-ranging concerns remain regarding recovery of the world’s major economies, performance of global stock markets, geopolitical concerns arising from uncertainties within the Middle East and Asia, as well as new container production levels, all of which may temper the current demand for leased containers.

The Registrant’s average fleet size and utilization rates for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

(Continued)

12

The primary component of the Registrant’s results of operations is net lease revenue. Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses, management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses, from rental revenues billed by the Leasing Company from the leasing of the Registrant’s containers. Net lease revenue is directly related to the size, utilization and per-diem rental rates of the Registrant’s fleet.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003

Net lease revenue of $1,765,224 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $250,657 lower than the corresponding period of 2003. The decrease was primarily a result of a $275,932 aggregate increase in rental equipment operating expenses, management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses, when compared to the corresponding period in 2003. Contributing to the increase in rental equipment operating expenses was repositioning expense, which increased by $190,643 when compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, as containers were moved from low demand locations to high demand locations. Repositioning expenses are expected to decline in subsequent periods in response to the increase in demand for containers and lower inventory levels. Also, repair and maintenance expenses increased by $120,242 when compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. These increases were partially offset by a decline in storage, a direct result o f higher utilization and its impact on reducing the number of off-hire containers in inventory. Lastly, gross lease revenue (a component of net lease revenue) increased by $41,318 when compared to the corresponding period of the prior year, arising from the combined effects of higher utilization rates, lower average per-diem rental rates and the Registrant’s smaller fleet size.

Depreciation expense of $1,791,399 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $41,636 lower than the same period in 2003, a direct result of the Registrant’s declining fleet size.

Other general and administrative expenses were $53,639 in the first quarter of 2004, consistent with the corresponding period of 2003.

Loss on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant disposing of 319 containers during the three-month period ended March 31, 2004, as compared to 334 containers during the same period in 2003. These disposals resulted in a loss of $33,171 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004, as compared to $169,108 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2003. The Registrant believes that the net loss on container disposals in the three-month period ended March 31, 2004 was a result of various factors including the volume of disposed containers, age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as the geographical location of the containers when disposed. These factors will continue to influence the decision to repair or dispose of a container when it is returned by a lessee, as well as the amount of sales proceeds received and the related gain or loss on container disposals. The level of the Registrant’s container disposals in subsequent periods, as well as the price of steel, new container prices, and the current leasing market’s impact on sales prices for existing, older containers, such as those owned by the Registrant, will also contribute to fluctuations in the net gain or loss on disposals. There were no reductions to the carrying value of container rental equipment due to impairment during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,786,325 and $2,052,627 during the first three months of 2004 and 2003, respectively, primarily generated from the billing and collection of net lease revenue.

Cash from Investing Activities: Net cash provided by investing activities during the three-month periods ending March 31, 2004 and 2003 included sales proceeds generated from the sale of rental equipment of $310,075 and $354,546, respectively.

Cash from Financing Activities: Net cash used in financing activities was $1,994,788 during the first three months of 2004 compared to $2,120,251 in the corresponding period of 2003. These amounts represent distributions to the Registrant’s general and limited partners. The Registrant’s fleet size may produce lower operating results and, consequently, lower distributions to its partners in subsequent periods. Sales proceeds distributed to its partners may fluctuate in subsequent periods, reflecting the level of container disposals.

(Continued)

13

Capital Resources

Capital Resources: Aside from the initial working capital reserve retained from the gross subscription proceeds (equal to approximately 1% of such proceeds), the Registrant relied primarily on container rental receipts to generate distributions to its general and limited partners, as well as to finance current operating needs. Quarterly distributions are also affected by periodic increases or decreases to working capital reserves, as deemed appropriate by CCC, to ensure cash reserves on hand are sufficient to meet the Registrant’s operating requirements. No credit lines are maintained to finance working capital.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Registrant’s accounting policies are fundamental to understanding management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition. The Registrant has identified three policies as being significant because they require the Registrant to make subjective and/or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. These policies include the following:

•		Container equipment – depreciable lives
•		Container equipment – valuation
•		Allowance for doubtful accounts

The Registrant, in consultation with its audit committee, has reviewed and approved these significant accounting policies which are further described in the Registrant’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Inflation

The Registrant believes inflation has not had a material adverse effect on the results of its operations.

(Continued)

14

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Exchange rate risk: Substantially all of the Registrant’s revenues are billed and paid in US dollars and a significant portion of costs are billed and paid in US dollars. The Leasing Company believes that the proportion of US dollar revenues may decrease in future years, reflecting a more diversified customer base and lease portfolio. Of the remaining costs, the majority are individually small, unpredictable and incurred in various denominations and thus are not suitable for cost effective hedging.

The Leasing Company may hedge a portion of the expenses that are predictable and are principally in UK pounds sterling. As exchange rates are outside of the control of the Registrant and the Leasing Company, there can be no assurance that such fluctuations will not adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The principal executive and principal financial officers of CCC have evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures of the Registrant as of the end of the period covered by this report. As used herein, the term “disclosure controls and procedures” has the meaning given to the term by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and includes the controls and other procedures of the Registrant that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files with the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive and principal financial officers of CCC have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective such that the information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms applicable to the preparation of this report and is accumulated and communicated to CCC’s management, including CCC’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

There have been no significant changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Registrant’s internal controls subsequent to the evaluation described above conducted by CCC’s principal executive and financial officers.

15

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Not applicable.

Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

Item 4. Submissions of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

Not applicable.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)

Exhibits

(b)		Reports on Form 8-K
		No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Registrant during the quarter ended March 31, 2004.

16

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 14, 2004

17

EXHIBIT INDEX