European boat registrations are up in 2015

GOOD news revealed by the latest European Boating Industry newsletter shows that registrations have risen noticeably during the three quarters of 2015 and future forecasts are positive.

According to their French member FIN, the situation on the European markets is improving and the expected growth will be in the range of 3 to 5 per cent in 2015.

The greatest growth is mainly coming from Scandinavia and the UK, although Spain and Italy are showing signs of significant recovery.

Germany reported that boat sales grew in 2015 with a slight increase in production from German boat builders. Service companies experienced extremely high demand with a peak of activity in the summer.

After four years of decline, FIN said 2015 was the first year for France with growth in all sectors with 65,000 second- hand boats having changed hands in 2015, while at the same time 8,000 new boats were sold. Italy reported growth in all of its sectors with a 10 per cent increase in domestic sales, the best for seven years.

Spanish member ANEN reported positive indicators for Spain. Sales of jet skis, motorboats (between 8-16m) and charter boats were increasing in 2015, as the country is finally picking up after the crisis.

It transpired that the Balearics continued to see the most number of registrations within Spain at 635 which gives the islands a 16 per cent market share and a growth of 23.3 per cent over the previous year.
Not even close contenders are in order of registrations, Barcelona, Madrid, Girona, Malaga and Alicante.