Sales of shipbuilding industry totaled RUR 150 bln in 2008 against forecasted RUR 180 bln, RF Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Khristenko told at the “government hour” at the State Duma, RBC reports.
According to the Minister, military goods account for some 70% of sales. The share of goods and services of commercial shipbuilding for domestic market grew by almost 70% in 2008. Now it makes one third of total output including export.
Khristenko noted that production of commercial shipbuilding should focus specifically on market segments with the highest demand and competitiveness. He also said the core of the product line is formed by goods of limited series of high-tech vessels. According to Khristenko, major vacant segments of the market are reflected by Russia’s main strategies adopted for industries which use the products of shipbuilding industry – energy strategy till 2030, transport strategy till 2030, water strategy till 2020, fishing complex strategy till 2020. "Besides, we focus on off-program budget measures of RosHydroMet (Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring), RosAtom (Federal Atomic Energy Agency), pre-crisis plans of fuel-and-energy companies, preliminary intentions on cooperation of the United Shipbuilding Corporation with Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina and other countries," Khristenko said.