Smaller than expected decline in recreational boating in 2020
If, due to the delay in publication, the figures presented by the Federation of Nautical Industries (FIN) for the 2020 season already seem far from the 2021 realities of the French yachting market, they are of interest in assessing the resilience of the sector. The president of the FIN, Yves Lyon-Caen is pleased with it. "The situation has not been as complex as we imagined in March 2020, when it all began. The downturn in the sector's overall activity in terms of revenue as of August 31, 2020 is, all in all, only 11% , at ?4.72 billion."
In terms of employment, the measures have limited the impact, with a -5% drop in the number of employees.
Growth of the used boat market compared to new boats
The construction of boats on French territory is also down by about 11%, reaching 1.2 billion euros in 2020, against 1.34 in 2019. "The order book and government aid have enabled an almost instantaneous recovery since the upturn," says Yves Lyon-Caen. The export rate remains high, at 76%.
While FIN indicates that the Maritime Affairs data on ownership transfers could be reviewed, as the implementation of new administrative portals is disrupting data collection, the number of used boat sales is estimated at 78,128, an increase of 30%.
Optimism for the 2021 boating season
Without being able to present consolidated figures, FIN has anticipated its prospects for the 2021 season, which has just ended. Stressing the very strong commercial recovery and its consequences in terms of tension on delivery times, as well as the logistical difficulties and supply of equipment and raw materials, its president displays his confidence. Only the situation of the overseas sectors, in the Caribbean and Polynesia, highly impacted by the pandemic, worry for the moment the FIN, which ask for the continuation of aid. "The return from 2021 to the levels of 2019, before the crisis of Covid, seems accessible, corresponding to a growth of about 10%. In this period, there is a renewed interest in boating, with neo-practitioners and young people. As in any success, there is always a thorn. We have to succeed in consolidating this attendance."
