São Paulo show ends on high note
By IBI Magazine/Fernanda Velloso
The 12th annual São Paulo boat show attracted 150 exhibitors and filled 30,000sq m of the Transamerica Expo indoor exhibition centre.
The organisers claim it generated sales of RS185m (US $108m), a 12 per cent year-on-year increase.
Ernani Paciornik, the show's president, commented: "The 2008 event suffered as a result of the international financial crisis. The Brazilian boating industry started to recover at the beginning of 2009 and we are definitely now seeing clear signs of increased business activity."
One of the key factors affecting the growth of the market was the reduction in state value-added sales tax from 25 per cent to 7 per cent in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santa Catarina.
The six-day show, which ended last week, attracted 42,000 visitors, 240 boats on display and a large variety of boating equipment exhibited by importers and retailers.
The Brazilian company Intermarine was one of the highlights of the show, displaying amongst several other models the Intermarine 760 flagship.
Schaefer Yachts had higher than expected sales at the show. Schaefer's president, Marcio Schaefer, commented: "We did good business at the show. Those consumers who did not buy last year are now coming back as market conditions are more stable."
Bill Gress, president of Brunswick Lain America, commented: "This has been a very strong show for all the Brunswick brands which participated."
Brunswick's Sea Ray line was represented by Yachts Brazil and its Bayliner sportsboats were exhibited by Gold Imports.
The boatbuilders with smaller boats in the 30,000 Reais (US$16,800) range also reportedly did well at the show. Lenilson Bezerra, the ACOBAR marine industry association's executive director, commented: "Everyone was positive as the growth trends will continue into 2010 and beyond."
(16 October 2009)
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