The complex international situation that is causing serious uncertainty in the markets is affecting the industrial sectors of the nautical industry. The nautical market closes the first quarter with figures below those reached in the same period of 2021 - except the market of the charter that is maintained in positive - but exceeding the pre-pandemic data, which shows that the nautical and its whole range of quality leisure activities, has been installed among the options chosen by nautical tourists to enjoy their free time (Photo Pedro Seoane)

The nautical market has fallen in the first quarter of 2022 with respect to the same period last year, except for the market for the charter that remains in positive growth of 16%.

Total enrolment of recreational craft reached 1,168 records until March of this year, 9% less than in the first quarter of 2021. If we refer to the year before the pandemic, 2019, in which 975 recreational boats were registered, the nautical market reflects a 20% growth in the current period.

Of the total number of registered entries in this first quarter (2022), 70% are for private-use vessels and 30% are for the rental market.

These are the data collected in the Recreation Boat Market Report. Enero- March, 2022... edited by ANEN from the data provided by the General Directorate of the Merchant Navy.

All segments, with the exception of ships between 6 and 8 meters, whose enrollments grow by 3.6% in this period, are affected, with a greater incidence on ships greater than 12 meters in length.

By type of boat, the logistical crisis that has led to a lack of supplies in certain markets is particularly affecting the type of water motorcycles, whose registration falls by -23.7%, and certain segments of motor ships (-6.7%).

The sailboats, on the other hand, maintain the good running of sales, with a growth of the enrollments of 6.5%, also due to a change of trend that has already been observed in the last two years towards a nautical tourism with the view set on sustainability.

The rental market with a 16% growth in the registration of recreational boats for the nautical charter in the year, has 344 registration for this use, compared to 296 in the same period of 2021. The most demanding boats for use of rent, in the first quarter of the year, are those of smaller length, up to 12 meters. By type of boat, the sailboats with a growth of 84% in the market of the charter over the first quarter of 2021 stand out.

In the computation of provincial enrolment, in those with the greatest impact of the nautical market, the impact of the crisis is uneven.

In Andalusia, the growth of enrolments in theMalaga(16.67%), the Andalusian province with the highest market share (7.19%).

In Catalonia, all of its provinces are still in positive shape, with higher enrolment growth in theBarcelona(4.55%) which also has the highest market share (9.85%) in this community.

The Balearic Islands, with a 16.18% market share, is most affected by the fall in enrolment (-12%).

In the Valencia Community, Alicante, with the largest market share of this community (7.53%) maintains the positive sign in enrollments (1.15%).

In the charter market, Baleares, with the largest share of this market (30.23%), is growing by 28% in the registration of ships for the charter. Alicante, with the next largest market share (12.21%), increases rent registration by 55.5%. In Catalonia, Barcelona, the province with the highest market share of charter in this community (8.72%), is experiencing an increase in enrolment over 200%.

Enrolment of recreational boats - March 2022
Source: ANEN with DGMM data