The French company was able to report impressive figures: The financial year ending on 31 August ended with a 21.1 percent increase in turnover in the boats segment compared to the previous year. In figures, this means: 694.4 million euros. Together with the residential sector (up 10.4 per cent), where mobile homes are manufactured, turnover amounts to just under one billion euros and is therefore almost at the same level as in 2007/08, when turnover was 1,055 million euros. Sailing boats accounted for 44 per cent of turnover. "The growth is mainly in the large boat segment. Lagoon catamarans and powerboats are doing well. But the new Sense range has also exceeded our expectations. We are operating profitably and are confident," reports Ives Mandin, press spokesman for Beneteau. Although the majority of the money earned still comes from Europe, the markets in Asia are growing rapidly, the Frenchman continues.
Hanseyachts AG with the brands Hanse, Fjord, Dehler, Varianta and Moody can also report a 17 per cent increase in turnover compared to the previous year. The net loss for the year was reduced from 13.1 million euros to 6.9 million euros. The personnel and materials ratios were reduced slightly. For the next financial year, probably the first under new management and ownership without company founder Michael Schmidt, the listed company expects to be back in the black.
Bavaria-Yachtbau GmbH, which is not publicly traded, does not have to publish its business figures, nor does it do so. But things seem to be going well there too: "We were able to increase turnover," Dr Jens Ludmann, Managing Director of the Giebelstadt shipyard, told YACHT.
Overall, the industry appears to be doing better than a year ago, at least as far as the large shipyards are concerned. This is also confirmed by the economic barometer of the German Boat and Shipbuilders' Association. According to the survey, 50.6 per cent of companies consider their situation to be better than in the previous year (2010: 33.8 per cent). More importantly, 42.8 per cent of respondents expect their business situation to improve in 2012 (2010: 37.2 per cent).
