The leisure marine market

The following view of the leisure marine market is from UK Trade & Investment in 2007...

UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that helps businesses to trade overseas. We provide essential export advice and expertise, through our network of locally based International Trade Advisers and Trade Development Officers at British embassies, consulates and High Commissions worldwide.The UK marine sector is export intensive with some international trade accounting for around 60% of turnover in some companies. The profile of the sector is predominantly SME and the UK marine sector is renowned for its innovative technical solutions. Some examples of areas the UK is strong in are:

· Leisure boatbuilding;

· Workboat building;

· Marine electronics;

· Marine related software;

· Deck equipment;

· Composites;

· Clothing & crew accessories;

· Naval architecture and design;

· Life saving equipment & safety;

· Superyacht building, repair & conversion;

· Superyacht equipment;

· Navigation equipment;

· Propulsion machinery, electrical & mechanical systems;

· Generation equipment;

· Control, instrumentation & monitoring equipment;

· Pumps & valves;

· Accommodation outfitting;

· Ship repair & conversion;

· EEZ capability, including security equipment & search and rescue capability.

The UK Trade & Investment Engineering team is responsible for setting and developing an international sector strategy for the UK marine sector and marketing its capability to overseas customers, working closely with regional partners in the UK and UK overseas Posts. The sector team is advised by an industry advisory board, the Marine Sector Advisory Group (MSAG). Robert Hill from Lewmar Ltd is the Chair of the MSAG. The UK Trade and Investment definition of the marine sector is set out below:

· Boat building;

· Cruise ships;

· EEZ related equipment & services (marine only);

· Inland waterway craft;

· Leisure boats;

· Marine equipment & associated services;

· Powerboats;

· Sail craft;

· Ship repair & conversion;

· Shipbuilding & associated services;

· Ships;

· Superyacht building, repair & conversion & equipment;

· Workboats;

· Yachts.

Current Priority Markets are (with priority marine sub-sectors for each market in brackets): Inexperienced Exporters These are markets that are most appropriate for new-to-export firms, i.e. those companies with less that 10% of turnover derived from proactive export sales activity. The markets are:

· France (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment & workboats);

· Germany (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment, ship equipment (2) & workboat);

· Italy (leisure boats & leisure marine equipment);

· Korea (ship equipment);

· Netherlands (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment & workboat);

· Spain (leisure marine equipment & workboat);

· USA (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment & ship equipment).

Experienced Exporters These are markets that are most appropriate for experienced exporters, i.e. those companies that are directly and proactively engaged in export with 10% or more of turnover derived from proactive export sales activity. (i) Emerging Markets of Scale These emerging markets present substantial opportunities for experienced UK marine companies: The markets are:

· China (ship equipment);

· Croatia (leisure boats & leisure marine equipment);

· Gulf Cooperation Council markets (leisure boats – 1.);

· Poland (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment, ship equipment);

· Russia (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment, workboats);

· Slovenia (leisure marine equipment);

· Taiwan (leisure boats & leisure marine equipment);

· Turkey (leisure boats & leisure marine equipment).

(1) The Gulf Cooperation Council comprises of the following markets: Bahrain,Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. (ii) Emerging Markets Longer-Term These markets are likely to offer opportunities for experienced exporters in the longer term (i.e. the next 2-3 years). The markets are:

· Brazil (ship equipment);

· Croatia (workboats);

· China (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment);

· Estonia (ship equipment, workboats);

· GCC (leisure marine equipment);

· India (ship equipment);

· Poland (workboats);

· Russia (ship equipment);

· Slovenia (leisure boats, workboats);

· Turkey (ship equipment);

· Vietnam (ship equipment).

(iii) Developed Markets These are markets that are mature, established, markets for UK marine firms but where specific sub-sectoral opportunities can still arise. The markets are:

· Finland (ship equipment);

· France (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment and workboat);

· Germany (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment, ship equipment & workboat);

· Italy (leisure boats & leisure marine equipment);

· Korea (ship equipment);

· Netherlands (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment & workboat);

· Spain (leisure marine equipment, workboats);

· USA (leisure boats, leisure marine equipment & ship equipment).

Niche Markets The markets below are suitable for companies in the Superyacht equipment market: Inexperienced Exporters

· France;

· Germany;

· Italy;

· Netherlands;

· Spain.

Experienced Exporters

· Australia;

· New Zealand;

· Turkey.