DUISBURG (dpa-AFX) - The caravanning industry is optimistic about the future despite faltering supply chains and a shortage of skilled workers. "Manufacturers' order books remain well filled and demand is high across all sectors," the Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD) announced in Duisburg on Wednesday. "Despite all the crises, interest in motorhomes and caravans remains high and the potential of our industry is far from exhausted," explained association managing director Daniel Onggowinarso.

The occasion was the trade fair "Caravan Salon", which opens on August 25 in Düsseldorf. About 750 exhibitors are expected at the 62nd edition. In 2022, about 235,000 people visited the fair. The last day of the fair is September 3. The CIVD is the conceptual sponsor of the trade show.

According to the association, a good 63,000 caravans and motorhomes were newly registered in the first seven months of 2023, 2.4 percent fewer than in the same period last year. While new registrations of caravans were around 11 percent below the previous year's level at just over 15,000, the number of motorhomes increased by 0.7 percent to just over 48,000. At the beginning of the year, a total of just under 1.6 million recreational vehicles were registered in Germany.

According to the association, the industry is producing under difficult conditions. Stagnating supply chains and staff shortages continue to affect the production of manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, there are bottlenecks in logistics. Inflation and high energy prices had also further exacerbated the companies' operating conditions. "It will be some time before our industry can produce under relatively normal conditions again," Onggowinarso said. More than 63,000 new registrations are therefore a more than respectable result, he added./tob/DP/mis