News
THIS YEAR’S METSTRADE HAS COME TO AN END (19TH – 21ST NOVEMBER), AMSTERDAM’S INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE FOR COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES IN THE RECREATIONAL BOATING SECTOR
1,670 EXHIBITORS FROM 53 COUNTRIES AND A DELEGATION OF 72 ITALIAN BUSINESSES COORDINATED BY UCINA AND ITA TOOK PART TO PROMOTE THE EXCELLENCE OF THE MADE IN ITALY BRAND
THE COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES SECTOR SEES POSITIVE DATA FROM 2018 AND A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR 2019 WORLDWIDE
Thursday 21st November was the last day of this year’s METSRADE (Marine Equipment Trade Show) in Amsterdam, the international showcase for the recreational boating accessories and components industry. Three days filled with talks and conferences for 1,670 exhibitors from 53 nations. Italian businesses taking part were a staggering 288, 19% of the total.
The participation of Italian businesses from the boating sector is part of a public and private partnership project managed by ITA – the Italian Trade Agency – and UCINA – Italy’s Marine Industry Association – and has seen a total investment of over 8 million euros, including the purchase of previously prepared stands, transport of materials and products on display, personnel and a key communications and marketing plan, supported directly by ITA and UCINA with regards to the event, to benefit all Italian businesses taking part in METSTRADE.
UCINA and ITA took part in the METSTRADE event with a delegation of 72 Italian businesses and with two institutional stands, one in Pavilion 5 (the Italian pavilion) and one in the Superyacht section, where important promotional, networking and business matching activities took place, all in support of the Made in Italy brand, with the participation and support of UCINA’s Market Analysis Department, industry experts and institutional representatives from the Italian Embassy in the Netherlands.
Among such representatives, the Head of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Italian Embassy in the Netherlands Davide Colombo and the ITA Brussels Manager Luigi Ferrelli made an official visit to the event to meet with the Italian exhibitors in the two pavilions, accompanied by UCINA President Saverio Cecchi and UCINA Director General Marina Stella.
Saverio Cecchi, President of UCINA: “The accessories and components segment of the Italian boating industry plays a key role on the global market, with a high level of quality and technology, something that is highly sought after worldwide. All of the Made in Italy brand’s excellence is on display here in Amsterdam and UCINA’s role by being present at the METSTRADE show has been to support and promote it alongside the Italian Trade Agency. We are also extremely satisfied with the positive outcome from UCINA’s initiative to protect Italian industry, the 100% Made in Italy Certificate which certifies and guarantees the origin and quality of products, formulated in partnership with the Institute for the Protection of Italian Manufacturers.”
The revenue for the entire accessories sector, represented primarily by small to medium businesses, has been estimated to be worth 1.16 billion euros in 2018 (27.1% of Italy’s overall industry revenue), 841 million euros of which came from national manufacturing and almost 320 million from imports. The key aspect of national manufacturing in this sector is the fact that sales are split equally between the domestic market and exports.
The positive trend continues for 2018 with an increase in revenue from last year after 5 years of growth. Indeed, 2018 saw a boost in national manufacturing (+8.8%) and in imports (+4.5%), which carry the industry’s revenue towards a 7.6% increase compared to 2017. The initial projections for 2019 are showing further growth throughout the sector.
UCINA’s participation at the METSTRADE show has also been of strategic importance when it comes to comparing notes on an international level with regards to technical and regulatory matters. Amsterdam’s trade show is one of the few key dates throughout the year where ICOMIA members (the International Council of Marine Industry Associations, counting 39 nations within its ranks) come to meet. METS held meetings for all working groups of the world federation, chaired by Andrea Razeto, Vice President of UCINA. Specifically, the groups who met up in Amsterdam were the Superyacht Division, the Market Intelligence Team, and the following committees: Grow Boating, Technical, Environmental, Exporters Committee. Closing the programme was the Overall Assembly of the global federation.
The coordination of the business delegation for METS in Amsterdam is the last of UCINA and ITA’s activities for international promotion in 2019. Initiatives will pick up again in 2020 with an institutional presence at BOOT in Düsseldorf (18th – 26th January 2020).
