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Russian yachting market froze in anticipation of the presidential election results

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Major Western brokers report about the recovery of yacht market, but their Russian colleagues are not so optimistic.

Russian brokers' assessments are very cautious; market participants agree that it is too early to talk about positive dynamics.

According to Irina Akimova, Prestige Yachts General Manager, the market has frozen in anticipation of the results of the presidential elections. Her colleague Igor Cherntaev from Ultraboats agrees: it is too early to expect any growth, we must wait to May, when potential buyers will be getting ready for the new season.

And what about the data cited by «Kommersant» that imports of ships to Russia in 2017 increased by 43% - and mainly due to yachts and boats? According to Irina Akimova, the newspaper got the calculations wrong. She has the statistics of the Federal Customs Service at her disposal, the analysis of which gives no reason to talk about the growth, especially such a significant one. According to Akimova, Kommersant's calculations could have included not only ships, but also marine engines.

If we compare with the previous year, in 2017, sales of foreign boats of size from 6 to 9 meters in Russia remained approximately at the same level or even decreased.

«According to customs statistics for 2016 and 2017, in the segment of imported boats from 6 to 9 meters we have 50% of the market. January - March 2018 statistics are not indicative as major sales have not started yet. As for the predicted boats, as of March 2018 we have not an increase, but a decrease compared to March 2017, - says Irina Akimova. - Nevertheless, active demand is visible. We have sales of large boats (Mediterranean, Adriatic), and there is a general interest in yachts of different sizes - it has increased sharply since February, as there was a "dead season" in December-January. In general we can not say yet that the situation on the market has improved. Everything will be clear after the elections».

Igor Cherentaev agrees with this assessment. In 2014-2015 the speedboat sales suffered some slump, in 2016 and 2017 they returned to the previous level, but there is no growth," he says.

Nevertheless the dealer is optimistic: in 2018 the company has brought 30 hulls up to 10 m in size to Russia.

Time will show whether these boats will find their buyers. Interestingly, the best-selling brand in the Ultraboats portfolio is the American brand of sport tugboats Nautique.

These are not cheap boats: the prices for them start from 150 thousand dollars, and yet they are flying like hotcakes. According to Cherentaev, sales are almost «every week». The number of sold motor sports carriers leaves behind even the popular Beneteau speedboats due to the effect of the fashion for healthy life style and active rest on the water.

As for yachts over 10 meters, these boats in absolute majority are bought for usage in climate more suitable for yachting - Mediterranean and Adriatic. They are not imported in Russia, so the segment of private yachts could not influence the statistics of vessels import. External factors and general political and economic situation have much less effect on sales of expensive vessels.

«We were selling yacht Azimut when Euro was 100 rubles», - says Igor Cherentaev.

Thus the volume of yacht deals at Russian dealers is such that it does not allow us to draw conclusions about the general situation on the market - this is rather the prerogative of large international brokers.

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