Article by
Lucio Petrone

THE IMPORT MARKET IN ITALY

There is still quite a number of national cruising yacht-builders, although fewer than in the past: but this is a problem affecting all European countries due to the global economical crisis, which was strongly felt in Italy, and to the fierce competition in importations from the European and US markets. It is especially the latter that makes up a real threat for builders world-wide, and especially in the EU. The devaluation of the dollar contributed to this fenomenon, enabling importers to fix prices that were extremely comptetitive. Although the exchange rate is not that good nowdays, it still gives a good advantage and therefore a large portion of stock and surplus from the US production gets to Europe, and mainly to the German, French, Italian and Scandinavian markets. This is possible because American production costs are sensibly lower than European ones. Several builders there produce tens of thousands of boats every year, thus lowering the cost per unit, whereas in Europe, and particularly in Italy, cruisers are only built by the tens, or by the hundreds at the most. Furthrmore, several American dock-yards belong to big companies that also produce engines, like OMC (Johnson and Evinrude) and Brunswick (Mercury, Mercruiser, Mariner and Force): it is threfore most convenient for them to export a whole "package", i.e. boats already fitted with an engine and, in some cases, a trailer for road transport. The package price is so low that European dealers can offer them at the same price European builders sell boats of similar size without an engine.

In Italy Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Maxum, Baha, Carver, Chaparral, Chris Craft, Magnum, Regal, Rinker, Silverton, Wellcraft, Cigarette, Rampage, Ocean Yacht, Crown Line, Monterey Boat and others are well-established trademarks. But especially in our market there is wide room for cruising boats fit for big game fishing or drifting, like Bertram, Trojan, Hatteras; but also Luhrs, Albermarle, Robale, Mako, Viking, Sport Craft Fishboat and other builders, even with semicabinati and open boats. As for sailboats, import from the US are restricted to Hobie Cats catamarans and sailing cabinati by Hunter, Mac Gregor and few others.

Back to the powerboat segment, several British ship-yards - like Fairline, Marine Project (Princess), Sunseeker, Sealine, Fletcher, Birchwood, Cougare, Hardy - have conformed their designs to the Mediterranean style with competitive prices. French ship-yards are on the front-line as well: Arcoa, Benetau and Gibert Marine offering mainly peche, promenade and sportcruiser. Norwegian and Swedish production in represented by Draco, Fjord, Nidelv, Seaco, Skilso, Tresfjord, Windy and Storebro, all of them building powerboats, whereas from the Middle East come the big Fu Hwa, Johnson Yacht, Ta Shing and Grand Banks.

Among the cruising sailboats, the leading companies include the French Jeantot Marine, Archambault, Benetau, Alubat, Wauquiez, Dufour, Edel, Gibert Marine, Jeanneau, Kirie and Jullien; Hallberg Rassy, Najad and Sweden Yachts from Sweden; Bavaria, Dehler and Folkebad from Germany and Performance, Moody, Orion and Westerly from Britain.

Holland, Belgium and Denmark are respectively present on the Italian market with cruisers by Conyplex and Etap, and racing boats by X-Yachts. And finally among the sailboats, there is the elitarian presence of Finland with Nautor and Siltala.

All these companies cater for all market requirements for small, medium and large motor and sailing boats, picturing better than any word the importance of the Italian market for ship-builders world-wide.