Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
Global Yacht Magnates to Gather Together at 15th China (Shanghai) International Boat Show next Thursday
(31st March, 2010, Shanghai) Asia’s largest boat event with the most overseas exhibitors, China (Shanghai) International Boat Show (CIBS), will launch its 15th annual event from April 8th-11st, at Shanghai Exhibition Center. During the event, nearly 400 overseas and domestic exhibitors will display more than two hundred glamorous world renowned boats and yachts, to show the diversified and amazing maritime leisure culture. The on-water display area alongside the Huangpu River unveiled for the first time last year will be open again this year with double the number of luxury yachts on display compared to the previous year.
Approximately 50 % of the around 400 domestic and international brands are boat and yacht exhibitors, equipment and accessories accounts for around 40%, while lifestyle and relevant services occupy the remaining 10% of exhibitors. The organizer indicates that this will be the 6th and the last time for CIBS to be held at Shanghai Exhibition Center. CIBS will move to the Expo site for next year’s event, which is a brand new modern venue to cater for the exhibitors, providing new scale and display patterns to the longest-established and largest boat show in Asia.
As it is the 15th anniversary of CIBS, China Boat Industry & Trade Association, one of the organizers of CIBS, will release the first “2009 China Yacht Industry Report” shortly before the opening ceremony. This report not only reviews last year’s changes and development within the industry, but also sheds light on the future trends of China’s yacht industry through CIBS, which has grown together with China’s yacht industry during the past 15 years.
New faces account for 20% of the total exhibitors; Taiwan Manufacturers shifting attention to mainland
According to Ms. Helena Gao, Senior Project Director of UBMSino Expo, one of the organizers of CIBS, “Nearly 20% of the total exhibitors will be making their debut at CIBS at the 2010 show. Moreover, brands temporarily withdrawing from CIBS last year due to the worldwide economic downturn have managed a prompt return. In particular, the significant increase in the number of Taiwan-based manufacturers is worth noticing. ”
Dozens of Taiwan-based brands will make their debut at CIBS next week, among which Ocean Alexander Marine is the exclusive supplier of VIP shuttle boats for 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The Taiwan yacht industry is among the top in the global market, and its mega yacht manufacturing ranks No.5, only next to Italy, United States, the Netherlands and Germany, with an annual output value of tens of billions in New Taiwan dollars. Previously Taiwan-based brands focused mainly on European and U.S. markets. With their customized design and exquisite interior decoration, Taiwan-manufactured yachts are greatly favored by celebrities all over the world including Michael Schumacher and Scottie Pippen. Moreover, 70% of the yachts in Hong Kong were made by Taiwan-based manufacturers. After many years of determination in foreign markets, Taiwan-based manufacturers are now gradually shifting their focus to Mainland China. Compared to most European or U.S. yachts, those made by Taiwan-based manufacturers not only incorporate Chinese element into design, but also more competitive in terms of price.
“Quite a few Taiwan-based manufacturers have visited CIBS in the past two years, and they are very pleased with the outstanding outcome of last year’s show despite the worldwide financial crisis,” Ms. Helena Gao added, “I am sure that in the coming years, there will be more communication and cooperation between the Mainland & Taiwan’s yacht industry, and further creates more development towards China’s yacht industry.”
The world’s top three yacht groups gather all flagship brands again;
Three leading UK brands to glitter on Huangpu River
CIBS 2010 will again successfully round up the boating industry’s major players, including three national pavilions from Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Three of the world’s renowned top yacht builders, Ferretti, Azimut-Benetti and Beneteau, are expected to exhibit all their brands.
This year will be the sixth consecutive year for world renowned sailing yacht builder Beneteau to attend CIBS, with the five boats on display the largest number in the six-year history. Three of the boats will be displayed in Shanghai Exhibition Center, while two Lagoon catamarans worth over 6 million RMB will be shown in the on-water display area. This will also be the first time for the luxury catamarans to appear on Huangpu River. Meanwhile, followed by the powerboat range Monte Carlo shown at last year’s show, Beneteau will bring its brand-new motor boat Antares 36 making its first appearance in the Asian market. Azimut-Benetti Group will exhibit the Azimut70, the latest flybridge yacht from the Azimut brand, with an estimated price of more than 10 million RMB.
Despite the three giant builders, CIBS2010 are honored to welcome back other long established and regular customers. Riviera, a luxury yacht brand in Australia and Fairline, UK’s No.1 yacht builder which bade a temporary farewell to the show last year will return with their latest boats and technologies for show visitors and buyers. Well-known luxury brands like Sunseeker, Princess and Fairline will exhibit their boats, which are valued over 10 million RMB each in the on-water display area. This will be the first time that the top three yacht brands of UK get together on Huangpu River, promoting their noble charm.
The France renowned luxury yacht brand, Jeanneau that has won the “Best Yacht of the Year” from “Motor Boating” magazine through its Prestige 38, will bring its upgraded Prestige 39 to Shanghai next week to showcase its star line. This Prestige 39 will cost around four million RMB. Brunswick, which brings many yachts to the Show every year, will showcase five boats this year with the highest costing 6.18 million RMB.
As for domestic exhibitors, leading brands such as Shanghai Double Happiness, Xiamen Yihong, Changzhou FRP, Ningbo Kingbay, Wuxi Dongfang, Shantou Yangfan, Zhuhai Sunbird, Zhuhai Jianglong, Xiamen Hansheng, Foshan Poly, Guangzhou Minhua, and Qingdao will actively participate in the Show as usual. With the improvement of domestic boatbuilding procedure, some domestic yacht brands have been getting rid of the vicious circle of low-price competition in recent years. Xiamen Yihong, for example, will set the price of its boat to be displayed at the Show at 13.8 million RMB. While the leading Chinese brand Shanghai Double Happiness, will bring its two classic yachts this year with each cost around five million RMB. Besides, some other Chinese brands like Shantou Yangfan and Suzhou Hesheng will set the price of their boat around eight million RMB.
The 15th anniversary features on various activities; Forum to focus on green development of boating industry
On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of CIBS, more and more various celebration activities will be held than previous years. In addition to regular activities such as on-water test drive and Shanghai Charity Regatta, professors from the School of Design of Politecnico di Milanowill will also bring the latest yacht building information from Italy, where many feel the current yacht trend started, and share their insight on the design and brand image management of yachts.
Besides, China International Conference on High Performance Marine Vessels and China International Yacht Economy and Sight Water System Development Forum will continue to be held during the Show. In order to respond to the up-coming Shanghai World Expo, the discussion will be mainly focus on the revelation of World Expo green yachts on China’s purified water system sightseeing development as well as the application of green low carbon, clean energy, and energy-saving and emission-reducing technology in yacht industry. Shi Zhengrong, Chairman of Suntech Power, will also be present and explain the good cause. A solar yacht built by Shi’s company will provide VIP sightseeing and shuttle boats services during the World Expo.
Meanwhile, King of Cognac - LOUIS XIII will be the lead sponsor of the Show for the third consecutive year. At the 2010 LOUIS XIII China International Boat Show Celebrity Dinner and the 15th Anniversary Asia-Pacific Yacht Industry Award Ceremony held on April 8 at Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, the organizer of CIBS will present the “Asian Marine and Boating Awards” for the first time to the best yacht, designer, yacht club, Regatta and person of Year 2009. King of Cognac - LOUIS XIII will again award LOUIS XIII - THE ICON to leaders contributing greatly to the yacht industry, commend their outstanding pioneering spirit and bold innovation, and witness their supreme glory! This celebration will also be witnessed and supported by Porsche, the world-famous car brand, and Alexander Fitness Club, as exclusive official sponsors.
“In April 1996, the 1st CIBS was held in a basement of Shanghai Centre. I still remember that there were only over ten real and model boats displayed on the scene. Now, after more than ten years’ development, CIBS has been successfully transformed into an international professional yacht show in terms of number of exhibitors and the overall scale and level of the whole exhibition. During this period of time, the domestic yacht industry has become more mature. China’s annual yacht export value has exceeded USD 200 million per annum, sixty-four yacht clubs of different sizes have been built throughout the country, and over 80 central cities and towns have conducted projects to plan, develop and construct scenic water system resource. There is no reason to doubt for China’s yacht industry to have a great opportunity ahead and bright future” said Yang Xinfa, Founder of CIBS, Chairman of China Boat Industry & Trade Association and Secretary General of Shanghai Association of Shipbuilding Industry.
For more information on the Show, please visit http://www.boatshowchina.com/.
