French Boat Builders Lead Charge Against Global Recession

The French marine industry federation FIN says that French boat production has grown seven per cent in the year September 2009-August 2010 compared to the year previous. The announcement came during a presentation made by FIN on Monday, before the opening of Paris International Boat Show. Even more impressive is the fact that growth in the powerboat category was up 20.7% for a total of 19,984 units. The export rate grew 63.3%.

Eugène Delacroix’s 1830 painting of “Liberty Leading the People.” This iconic depiction of Gallic determination is symbolic of the French boating industry today.

From IBI (International Boating Industry) newsletter, Dec 6 --

France’s boat production for 2009/2010 represented a value of €814.51m for 96,068 units. The rate of export grew to 63.3 percent.

A total of 19,984 motorboats were delivered in 2009/2010, showing growth of 20.7 per cent on the year before. Sailboat production also increased to 4,755 units, up 1.2 per cent on the year previous. Pleasure vessels categorised as ‘Other,’ including inflatables and RIBs, totalled 71,329 units, a drop of 0.6 per cent on the year before.

New boat registrations stablised at 18,996 in 2009/2010, a drop of 2.3 percent compared to a drop of 17 per cent in 2008/2009. Used boat sales declined in 2009/2010, with recorded changes in ownership of motorboats down 0.4 percent to 49,465 and changes in sailboat ownership down 12.7 per cent to 10,668.

Meanwhile the number of boat licences awarded in 2009 rose by 19 percent to 66,313.

FIN is one of the organisers of the Paris International Boat Show, which opened to the public on Dec. 7and runs until Sunday, December 12. On Tuesday, December 7, FIN presented its eco-aware Bateau Bleu award at the show.