Nautical Cluster analysis: turnover, employment & investments

Yesterday (Tuesday) Barcelona Nautical Cluster presented a study on the economic impact of the nautical sector and of the member companies of the Cluster on the metropolitan area ofBarcelona. The event was held at the Barcelona World Race Interpretation Centre and involved Barcelona Nautical Cluster President and CEO, Toni Tio and Alejo Trullás, along with Carmen Poveda, director of the Bureau of Economic Research & Infrastructures of the Chamber of Commerce and author of the study "The Nautical Cluster: business analysis & economic impact".

For the first time, the report studied the overall economic impact of the nautical sector in terms of production and employment in Barcelona's economy as a whole. The study also analyses the activity of the Cluster's member companies and identifies the planned investments and the impact to be generated in other activities.

Altogether, 305 companies have been identified in the metropolitan area of Barcelona linked to the nautical sector, with a total of 2,115 employees and a turnover of € 465 million. If we consider the direct, indirect and induced impact, these figures represent activity worth € 836 million and around 8,300 jobs.

The study considered 51 of the 56 companies in Barcelona Nautical Cluster that declared nautical activities as their main activity as of April 2015. The member companies have a joint turnover of € 180 million and create 2,650 direct and indirect jobs.

Investments that benefit the economy

The study also includes the investments planned by these companies in the Cluster and their impact in terms of economic activity and job creation. It is expected that the next three years will see investments worth € 89 million, representing an impact on aggregate production in the metropolitan area of € 210 million and helping to create 525 direct and indirect jobs, a figure that could rise to 1,586 if the total impact is taken into consideration.

Furthermore, we need to take into account the spending generated by the vessels that will berth at the Port Vell once the enlargement works are completed. It is estimated that two-thirds of the € 470 million of annual expenditure to be generated will go straight back into the city's economy, including the money spent by these superyachts in industrial maintenance, provisioning, fees or spending by crews and passengers.

A growing Nautical Cluster

Barcelona Nautical Cluster currently comprises 62 companies and organisations related to nautical and sailing activities. Of the 51 companies analysed, the two main sectoral areas are industry and ports and marinas, which together account for 72% of employment and 63% of turnover.

During the presentation of the study, Toni Tió, President of Barcelona Nautical Cluster, said "Compared to the sector, the sectoral structure of the Cluster shows clearly the commitment of Barcelona Nautical Cluster towards reindustrialisation of the nautical sector as a driver for other activities and economic sectors."

The report estimates that if the Cluster meets its 20% growth target in the next two years, the turnover of the associated companies will stand at € 290 million and employ around 1,300 workers. These figures would represent 62% of the total nautical sector business.

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