Market Intelligence: Positive Signs

As one of the first in the industry to collect the latest market intelligence, the dedicated Camper & Nicholsons International listings team have scoured the market for the most up to date industry statistics and updates in order to share the relevant February activities with you.

Three months into the year and already the yacht market has seen rumblings of promising activity with the conclusion of several sales and worldwide yacht shows taking place on the busy yachting calendar to include the Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show, the Dubai International Boat Show and the Palm Beach International Boat Show.

Following on from the successful sale of 46 yachts in January, the month of February nearly caught up with 34 yachts sold. Two sailing yachts and an impressive 32 motor yachts were snapped up, where the most notable from the motor yacht list was an 88m (289’) Lürssen that leading the way, followed by 62.5m (203’4) Icon built in 2010 and sold by Camper & Nicholsons International.

The average asking price of the yachts sold since the beginning of the year remains similar when comparing the yachts priced in US Dollars and Euros. In the 24-30m (79’-98’) motor yacht sector, the average asking price was USD$2.86 million, whereas in Euros it was €2.7 million. Mid-size yachts of 30-40m (98’-131’) showed USD$6.8 million compared to €5.9 million.

Watching the market evolve over the last seven years has shown some interesting developments, where there was approximately 10% more yachts delivered in the 50m+ (164’+) size segment in 2013 than in 2007. It is also worth noting that there was a 7% increase in the 40-50m (131’-164’) size segment over the same period. 
The only size segment that has seen a decrease in deliveries is the 24-30m (79’-98’) market, indicating that existing clients are moving up in the size of yacht they purchase and that there may also perhaps be less first-time buyers entering into the 24m+ (79’) size of yachts.

Switching attention to the new yachts coming on to the market, there was a stunning 52m (171’) Feadship on display at the Palm Beach International Boat Show along with a 50m (164’) Westport that had not previously been on the marketplace, as well as a 46.7m (153’) Heesen yacht. 

The oldest yacht made available for sale was a beautiful classic 1929-built New York Yacht, which at the time, had an overall length of 28m (92’), and was the largest yacht ever built by the yard.  Following closely in the lead was also a 38m (125’) sailing yacht built by the Danish ship builder, Fredrikssund in 1930.

The last of the US shows has just finished in Palm Beach this spring and it is now the turn of the European shows to steal the limelight with the Palma Superyacht Show starting in April to mark the start of what we coin will be a note-worthy season ahead.

For more information on the latest market intelligence, we invite you to contact Camper & Nicholsons International.