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EXPO DUBAI 2020: WORLD-FIRST PRESENTATION OF ITALIAN MARINE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION’S STATISTICAL REPORT ON THE ITALIAN BOATING SECTOR AND OF THE 62ND GENOA INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
SAVERIO CECCHI, PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN MARINE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION: “GLOBAL TURNOVER FOR THE ITALIAN BOATING INDUSTRY IN 2021 REACHED 6 BILLION EUROS”
EXPORT OF YARD PRODUCTION LEADS THE CHARGE IN 2021 WITH 2 BILLION EUROS
ITALY’S LEISURE BOATING INDUSTRY A WORLDWIDE EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE.
Expo Dubai 2020 saw the world-first official presentation of the Monitor data, the statistical report compiled by the Research Department of the Italian Marine Industry Association, providing an overview of Italy’s boating sector, focusing on the state of the industry as of the current yachting year’s half way point.
The Italian Marine Industry Association is currently carrying out a two-fold mission in the United Arab Emirates: first, to organise a delegation of Italian businesses for the Dubai Boat Show, working in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency, and to take part in the Regional Day dedicated to Liguria, taking place in the Expo Dubai 2020 Italian Pavilion.
“I would like to thank the General Commissioner of the Expo Dubai 2020’s Italian section, Paolo Glisenti, and President of the Liguria Region, Giovanni Toti, and President of the Italian Trade Agency, Carlo Ferro, for this opportunity. We are here at the Expo Dubai 2020, the largest event in the world. Being here today is unmistakable proof of the world-class excellence of our boating industry – commented the President of the Italian Marine Industry Association, Saverio Cecchi in his opening statement, adding: “The Dubai Boat Show is currently taking place only a few miles from here, where our companies are representing the core values of the Made in Italy brand. The Italian Marine Industry Association has been taking part in this Show for 16 years, organising delegations of Italian businesses alongside the Italian Trade Agency. We have a strong propensity for export, with an export rate of 86% of our national production in terms of leisure units. We are world leaders when it comes to building superyachts (accounting for over 50% of orders worldwide), RIBS, components and equipment”.
Saverio Cecchi continued, proving an overview of the numbers: “The estimated growth in global turnover of the sector is confirmed at +23.8%, with a potential variation of ± 5%. The latest indications suggest that the definitive figures (due to be published at the next Genoa International Boat Show in September) will almost certainly be in the upper range of current estimates. In this scenario, the global turnover of the Italian boating industry could touch the threshold of 6 billion euros, which would see a return to the record levels we saw in the two-year period between 2007/2008”.
As for the current crisis in Ukraine, President Cecchi confirmed the Association’s intention to monitor the situation as it develops. For the country the Association’s Presidential Council, convened on Friday 4th March, registered no significant exposure with regards to yard portfolio, featuring orders for up to three years.
The preliminary 2021 data on the trend of the nautical industry in Italy derives from statistical surveys conducted by the Research Department in September 2021 and February 2022 and is based on a significant sample of associated companies.
Among the principle factors that have fuelled this growth we must first of all highlight the growth in exports of nautical goods, which in the rolling year ending in October 2021 reached its highest historical value of 3 billion euros (data processed by the Edison Foundation).
“Other decisive factors – explained Andrea Razeto, Vice President of the Italian Marine Industry Association – are the order books of the Italian superyacht shipyards, which in many cases are full for the next three years, and the excellent performance of the nautical accessories and marine engines sectors. Expectations for the current nautical year (September 2021 – August 2022) are also very positive”.
For the production boat sector, 88% of the sample indicates continued growth compared to the previous nautical year, although this value is slightly lower for the equipment and engine sectors at 77%. While no shipyards foresee a reduction in turnover for the current nautical year, among the equipment/engine manufacturers only 8% of respondents report a possible contraction. We must however keep in mind that the survey in question was carried out prior to the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict thus any relating estimates do not account for the respective consequences with regards to the world economy.
The Association’s presence at the Expo Dubai 2020 was also the perfect opportunity for the global launch of the 62nd Genoa International Boat Show scheduled to take place from 22nd to 27th September), organised by the Italian Marine Industry Association via the operational company I Saloni Nautici, ready to welcome industry professionals, visitors and boating enthusiasts to its over 200,000 m2 (85% of which is outdoors), divided into the successful multi-specialised format.
Alessandro Campagna, Sales Manager for I Saloni Nautici: “The Genoa International Boat Show is a global beacon for the leisure boating sector, dedicated to representing the value, efficiency, safety and consistency of the industry. 2020 marked the first steps on the “Road to 2023” – which will allow the Genoa Boat Show to take place on the city’s brand new Levante Waterfront, designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano with a functional yet equally spectacular layout, guaranteed to give the Show an even greater impetus. Genoa itself is evolving, thanks to a series of organic projects aimed at developing the area, with the local institutions working hard to define a new transport system, a better infrastructure and greater connectivity across the city.”
The events programme saw a conference organised by the Boero Group in partnership with The Superyacht Group, entitled “The Blue & Green Horizon for the superyacht ecosystem”: a roundtable dedicated to the 2030 sustainability strategy, which featured the participation of Italian Marine Industry Association Vice President Andrea Razeto and Councillor Barbara Amerio.
The day ended with a seminar dedicated to the Boating sector as part of the series of Innovation Talks, organised by the Italian Trade Agency, in partnershipwith the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Expo Dubai 2020 General Commission for Italy. The event, entitled “Between innovation and beauty: the trends in the nautical sector”, featured the Italian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Nicola Lener, President of the Italian Trade Agency, Carlo Ferro, President of the Liguria Region, Giovanni Toti, and, representing the Italian Marine Industry Association, Vice President Alessandro Gianneschi and Councillor Barbara Amerio.
Dubai, 11th March 2022
