Building on the boat show momentum at Metstrade

Metstrade entrance © Metstrade

The autumn boat show season is a critical indicator of the current state of the market and future outlook. Metstrade serves as a key moment for many industry stakeholders to reflect and regroup after a busy season of international boat shows when there is a clear picture of order book volume and boat builders are ready to start exploring new partnerships and innovations.

The Metstrade team travelled to many of the consumer shows in September. Our verdict? A strong boat show season with a consistent flow of quality audience and clear sparks of optimism.

Key trend from autumn boat shows: consumer confidence

The first of the September shows we attended was Hiswa Te Water, the Dutch in-water boat show, which reported record-breaking visitor numbers and a bigger international appeal. This was a positive start to the show season, and we could feel the optimism as we walked the pontoons and met with boat builders anticipating a rise in orders.

It was clear that consumer confidence at this show was strong, and we were pleased to see this trend across Cannes, Southampton, and Genoa boat shows too. This is a very important indicator as activity at the boat shows drives the entire industry and influences how boat builders and suppliers plan for the coming season.

Cannes Yachting Festival has always been a busy show with an international audience, and it is especially influential in the luxury segment, which is currently thriving. There was a high-level of innovation on display at the show through equipment and materials, including electrification and hybrid systems - all of which we look forward to seeing in close detail at Metstrade.

With the Italian Marine Industry Association reporting a record turnover of €8.60 billion for the country's marine industry, Genoa Boat Show was an opportunity to understand why the leisure marine industry is so strong in the region. For those who didn't attend Genoa, Metstrade's Italian Pavillion is where to find leading innovators from Italy and find inspiration for future products.

The Southampton and Genoa boat shows are similar in the sense that both are regional shows, and most exhibitors are domestic with a handful of international brands. These shows also have a strong mix between vessels and equipment.

Luxury demand rises, but entry-level demand persists

One key trend from across all the shows was exhibitors all brought their top-range products, and it was evident the demand for luxury was the most prominent. It was a clear indication that builders are pursuing higher-budget buyers, but there is still an essential need to provide entry-level boats to engage with new potential boaters.

The strength of the autumn consumer shows extends to the marina sector as well, with the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference relocating to a new venue to accommodate the overwhelming demand for registrations.

So, what's next, now these shows are finished? There should be a clear picture of order intake and production needs - now is the time to connect buyers with the best innovations to add value to new boats and yachts, whilst enabling collaboration with partners from all corners of the world.

Metstrade: The global hub for innovation and collaboration

For visitors to Metstrade, every important innovation and product is available to provide the critical differentiation for new projects, whilst exhibitors have access to relevant buyers for new routes of collaboration. Spending more time at Metstrade to maximise every opportunity and to gain new industry insights will be time well spent.

The extensive content programme across five stages is also designed to carry on the conversations from these consumer shows and provide the knowledge and inspiration for future growth.

It was exciting to see and hear collaborations between domestic businesses at the boat shows, and for those seeking to engage with an international audience, Metstrade is where to find over 135 nationalities to collaborate with under one roof whilst gaining insights and a clear view of the global market.