According to a report from the National Association of Nautical Vessels, in absolute figures, the Balearics had surpassed the 134 matriculations registered in January-March 2018 to 181 this year, up until March. A figure which puts the Islands with a 18% share of the market in second position after Andalucía (21.14%), and ahead of Catalunya (17.2%). And in the charter market, the Balearics, with it’s market share of 27%, is in second place, after Catalunya (29.19%) and Valencia (20.53%).
The progress of the charter market of superyachts since the elimination of the matriculation tax is substantial in the number of yachts which have obtained a charter license in the Balearics, the total number of charter days and an estimation of the taxes paid by these yachts, the effect of IVA, the costs of the yachts, and other expenditure.
The matriculations (registrations) in the pleasure boat market increased by 35% in January to March of this year in comparison with the same time period last year. Of 155 yachts registered, 34 are longer than 45 m – in 2013 there weren’t any: 60 are longer than 35 m, compared with only 5 in 2013.
Spain, a country with great nautical tradition, faces challenges such as sustainability or the digitalisation of the sector, which last year registered 5,545 vessels, 3.3% more than in 2017.
The superyacht charter is the sector with a margin for growth and the international market backs the Balearics. Of the eight biggest companies in the world dedicated to the luxury yacht market, six have offices in Mallorca, which in itself is comprehensive.
Chartering stimulates the sector at the local level – almost €24,000.000 between IVA and other income – and is not limited to the summer. Yachts which are in Spain for the charter season tend to spend the winter here, carrying out maintenance and repairs, thus contributing to the creation of employment, direct or indirect and taking the seasonality out of yachting.
