China (Shanghai) International Boat Show 2010 exceeds RMB300m sales

by CIBS Media on 13 Apr 2010 The 4 day China (Shanghai) International Boat Show 2010 closed yesterday in the Shanghai Exhibition Centre. More than 400 brands took part in the show with 252 boats displayed plus 126 boat models. The trade value broke the record of 300m RMB.

Helena Gao, Senior Project Manager of the show organizer Shanghai UBM Sino Expo, said that the participant base had expanded to 67 nationalities. Even after the global economic downturn, the number of overseas visitors has increased 60%.

The big three - Ferretti, Azimut and Beneteau - along with Princess, Fairline, Brunswick and Jeanneau continue to report good sales.
- Jeanneau received orders on a 45 foot and a 50 foot cruiser
- Regal sold a 33 foot motor yacht on the first day of the boat show
- Princess signed a demo for an 84 foot and a 54 foot motor yacht
- Beneteau sold all three of the boats on display, along with their Lagoon catamaran on the water at Shanghai Yacht Club
- Fairline’s return to Shanghai resulted in the closing of a deal on a yacht valued at RMB18m
- Brunswick sold 13 boats ranging from RMB2-3 m each
- The French Couach company were surprised to sell two boats with total value RMB11m in their first time ever participating in the boat show - having just come for a try and trial.

Locally made boats were a highlight of the 2010 show. Shanghai Double Happiness, Xiamen Yihong and Shantou Yangfan expanded their stand to display more products aimed at meeting both Chinese and overseas markets. The combination of quality control and elements targeted at local people’s taste made these brands a huge success.

Valued RMB13.80m, a 46 footer was sold on the first day on Xiamen Yihong stand with the boat being purchased by a hotel developer in Henan province plus another five 63ft motor yachts and and a 46 footer. Five prospective clients expressed interest in both luxury yachts made by Shanghai Double Happiness. Shantou Yangfan sold their yachts displayed on the Huang Pu River in the Shanghai Yacht Club with total value RMB7m, and 10 boats were sold by Zhejiang Automeike with RMB1m value each. Jiangsu Xinshen managed to sign a deal on more than 30 boats.

Prospective buyers from Hong Kong, Korea, Russia, Qatar, Dubai, South Africa and Greece joined the local purchasers coming to the boat show searching for the right products for themselves.

It was eighth year for the Italian camp to come to CIBS, and the development of the size of the Italian Pavilion showed the commitment to explore the market in China. Japanese and Australian delegations have already started to plan for next year after the show of the last few days from which they were convinced that China’s market is so important. Representatives were also sent from Spain and Finland to evaluate the possibility of coming to China next year.

The yacht industry also joined the trend of low carbon campaign worldwide. Shanghai Tianyi brought its new solar panel motor yacht to the show and signed 3 demos. Coming to Shanghai for the show, Argentina exhibitors agreed that the yachting industry shall be closer to nature and the ocean with more care taken of the environment.

On the Saturday of the show, light winds, grey skies and low visibility didn't deter 30 crews taking to the water on Dianshan Lake, west of Shanghai for the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show Charity Regatta in aid of The Silent Angel Kindergarten for autistic children.

'From the luxury motor yacht where you enjoy the cocktail on the swimming platform to dinghy which you have to work hard on to pull all sheets and ropes, boats have brought so much joy from different perspectives. China (Shanghai) International Boat Show has transited from a simple exhibition to where everybody can learn and share the passion for water and pursue a healthier, happier and free lifestyle', Yang Xinfa, the founder of China Boat Industry and Trade Association told us.