Thursday, December 4, the day before the opening of the 54 ème Nautic of Paris the French Nautical Industries Federation (FNI) held a press briefing on the situation of the French boating industry for the 2013-2014 season. It decided to focus its study on two major sectors of boating, the industry, with the worthy representative of the latter, the Paris Nautic, and services, with which boaters are in contact all year round.
What we can remember is the revival of sailboat production, particularly the significant increase in multihull production, and the increase in export sales. In the end, nautical production in 2013-2014 will have been relatively stable even if the service trades are still affected by a difficult national market.
In 2013-2014, the production of sailboats and motorboats represented sales of 727.7 million euros (+1%) for 13,907 units produced (-16%). Total production amounted to 739.40 million euros, including miscellaneous pleasure boats. Export sales amounted to 535.6 million euros, compared with 530.2 million euros, or 72.4% of total sales. First of all, we can note the recovery in Europe at 229 million euros (+4.5%) and stable worldwide sales outside Europe at 306 million euros (-1.6%). Even though the United States is showing a recovery, new markets (Russia, Brazil, China, Turkeyâeuros¦) are slowing down. Sales on the French market amounted to 203 million Euros (- 3 %).
The growth sector of the sailboat
Sailboat production generated sales of 441.50 million euros (+4.5%) with an export rate of 76.5%. For monohulls and multihulls over 15 meters, this figure is even 82%. It represents 60% of total French production in terms of sales. This growth can be explained by two factors, the monohull and multihull habitable sectors, in which France is the world leader and which bring a respective turnover of 249 Meuros (- 1% to) and 185.60 Meuros (+13.6%), the latter in good progression.
France maintains its position in the world motorboat market
French motorboat production was down at 286 million euros (-4%), with an export rate of 68% and worldwide sales outside Europe up by 4% to 132.30 million euros. Production of 9 to 24-meter houseboats rose significantly (+8.8%) to 197.80 million euros. Production of smaller units was down, due in part to the decline in the French market.
Service occupations show a slight decline
The service trades, another component of the sector, represented in 2013 a turnover of 2,235.80 Meuros for 22,011 jobs, of which more than 70% relate to trading and maintenance activities. The latter recorded a turnover of 1 587 Meuros, down 2%. At cause, the decline in the number of boats sold in France âeuros nearly 13,000 in 2013-2014 (- 8%) that barely compensates the sale of used boats âeuros 62,000 units (+1%).
These companies remain essential to the quality of the customer relationship and its proximity.
Actions of the Nautical Industries Federation
In this context, the Nautical Industries Federation continues its actions in favor of the reinforcement of the competitiveness and the development of the companies. It reinforces its action on 3 points:
- To better understand and communicate on the real contribution of the recreational boating sector to the development and wealth of the territories;
- Demonstrate the environmental dimension of yachting, through its industrial development and by defending a fair balance between responsibility and freedom of practice;
- Attract new generations to the practice of boating.
It will also deliver the results of a study conducted on the subject "The expectations of future boaters" on Tuesday, December 9 at 9 am.
