While many of the world’s economies continue to stagger in various states of recession and stagnation, the rich just keep on getting richer. And how do we know? Because it sure didn’t take long for the super/mega/giga-yacht market to rebound from the lows it’s been suffering since ’09. More from the Daily Times:
There were 221 sales of superyachts in the first half of 2014, a rise of almost a third from the same period a year ago, according to figures from Boat International Media. That represents a 66 per cent rise from the 74 yachts sold in the first half of 2009, the bottom of the market.
Separate figures show the new-build superyacht market is also picking up. According to Superyacht Intelligence, there are 360 yachts being built this year, a number which is expected to rise to 411 – the same level as in 2013. That is still well below the 2008 peak, when there was an order book of 587 yachts.
And that’s not even all the good news. While the re-emergence of wealthy American buyers, who have traditionally been the biggest nationality of buyers, has helped boost the market, the founder of a luxury yacht builder says that European buyers have yet to return to the market, and that many Russian buyers have disappeared while the Ukraine crisis persists. And that the Chinese market remains barely tapped thanks to a lack of infrastructure for yachting in China.
In other words, if you’re looking for your next Megayacht over the next few years, you’d better order it soon!
Full article here.
