September 2012 Market Report

Comparisons to previous years suggest a September slow-down in launches and sales may very well be down to seasonal factors. For example, a disinclination to buy as we head into winter and yards pushing out yachts in good time for the Monaco Yacht Show in September. In any case, new orders are likely to brighten up the outlook in the coming months…

September 2012 in numbers

Brokerage Sales

Fourteen sales were reported in September compared with 17 in August (an 18 per cent drop) as the month-on-month tally continues to wither. September’s figure is, however, exactly the same as that of September last year, when a similar slump also occurred – so declining sales numbers may simply reflect the fact that fewer people buy yachts as winter approaches.

September sales included the 48.8m, 2009 Christensen motor yacht VF-15, which was asking $29,950,000; the 32.2m, 1988 Heesen motor yacht The Lady J, which was asking €721,240; and the 34.95m, 2004 Benetti motor yacht Stilvi III, which was asking €5,500,000.

Superyacht sales in 2012

New to the market

Forty-one superyachts were new to the market in September, compared with 37 in August. September’s crop included 36.9m classic 1958 fantail motor yacht Montrevel, asking $5,395,000; the 2010, 46.55m Benetti motor yacht Illusion I, asking €23.75 million; and the 1998, 54.4m Andrew Winch-designed, Amels-built motor yacht Faribana V, asking $37.5 million.

Price reductions

There were 58 price reductions in September, on a par with August’s 55. They included €1 million off the price of 1998, 42.85m sailing yacht Hetairos, which is now asking €8.9 million; a $1.75 million price reduction on Benetti’s 2004, 44.2m motor yacht Domani, which is now asking $15.75 million; and $5 million off Delta’s 2009, 46m motor yacht Katya.

New orders

We heard about eight new superyacht orders in September, a healthy increase on August’s three and July’s seven. The highlight was a 108m sailing yacht to be built by Oceanco, due in 2015.

The shine wares off slightly when you consider these eight in the light of the 17 new orders reported in September last year – which was a spike from much more mundane figures in the months immediately before and after. However, it is worth noting that during the 2012 Monaco Yacht Show we were told of many orders that we cannnot publish at present, because the yards are waiting for deposits before announcing them. This means we’re likely to report some more good news in the following months.

New superyacht orders in 2012

Launches

We were told of six launches in September, compared to 13 in August (exactly the same figures were recorded for both months in 2011, suggesting a seasonal pattern). It makes sense that there would be fewer launches at this time of year, at the time of the major boat shows – yards trying to push boats out before September, in time to put them on display.

September’s splashes included three Italian builds – the 44.8m motor yacht Viudes 45 from Mondo Marine; 39m sailer Renaissance from CNT – Castagnola; and 26m motor yacht Amalthea from Canados.

Superyacht launches in 2012

Deliveries

Fourteen deliveries were reported in September, compared with 17 in August and 19 in July – and 17 in September last year. Of particular note in September’s tally are 67.15m motor yacht Garçon from Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands, 47m motor yacht Orient Star by CMB Yachts in Turkey and 46.57m motor yacht Project 12 from Pisa Superyachts (see the NOvember issue of Boat International for more on this yacht). Five of the yachts were from Turkish yards and five from Italian yards.

Superyacht deliveries in 2012