Finnish marine industry stable in 2013

Finnboat members have reported net sales of €460.7m, a drop of just 3.5%

Finnish marine companies have reported net sales of €460.7m in 2013 – a 3.5% drop compared to the previous year.

According to figures released by Finnish marine industry association Finnboat, domestic boat sales were down just 0.1% to €104.0m. Wholesale deliveries of small craft and motorboats below 6m (20ft) fell by 19.3% to 6,683 units, while boats from 6m-8m (20ft-26ft) dropped by 2.6% to 553 units.

Deliveries of boats from 8m-10m (26ft-33ft), on the other hand, grew by 7% to 58 units and boats over 10m (33ft) were up 16.6% to 28 units.

Based on information supplied by Finnboat members, the total number of 6m (20ft)-plus sailboats registered in Finland in 2013 fell by 45% to 43 units. Imported boats continue to dominate the domestic market for sailboats with a share of over 95%. Most boats sold were in the 10m-12m (34ft-40ft) class, says Finnboat.

As for exports, the invoice value of Finnboat members in 2013 fell by 16.2% to €149.7m.

Customs’ statistics for the first 10 months of 2013 show the top export destinations as Norway with 2,396 units worth €37.7m (up 12.9%), Sweden with 2,106 units worth €28.9m (up 19.3%) and Russia with 698 units worth €10.8m (down 16.9%). In all, 6,045 boats were exported to 33 countries during the period – a rise of 6.5%.

The value of imports, excluding boats valued at less than €840, was €45.8m, a rise of 43.3%. Altogether, 1,658 boats were imported over the period, up 43.2% compared to the first 10 months of 2012.

Despite the fall in exports in 2013, some 49% of Finnboat member companies are expecting an increase in turnover in 2014, and 16% anticipate expanding their workforce. Around 22% of responding companies laid off workers in 2013.

By press release