Sweden's marine industry still buoyant
By IBI Magazine/Lars-Åke Redéen
The Swedish market for leisure boats showed a significant growth for 2006, a trend that has developed during the last 13 years.
During 2006 total sales of new boats grew to SEK 4 billion, of which imports accounted for more than 50 per cent with SEK 2.3 billion. The total number of new boats sold on the Swedish market was approximately 20,000, with an average price of SEK 200,000 (€21,600).
Swedish imports, which have also increased dramatically over a number of years, grew 17 per cent during the first 10 months of 2006, reaching SEK 1.44 billion. Under the same period Swedish exports of leisure boats reached SEK 1.45 billion, equalling the exports of 2005.
Imports were dominated by motorboats with a 70 per cent share, while sailboats took a 20 per cent share and the rest included all smaller boats. On the export front, sailboats had the biggest share with 50 per cent, motorboats accounted for 40 per cent, and smaller boats the remaining 10 per cent.
The most important markets for Swedish exports remain Norway, Germany, UK, The Netherlands and Denmark. Imports mainly come from Finland, Norway, Germany and the US.
(12 February 2007)
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