In 2010 this sector – once the first on the list of main commodities exported by the province of Venice - recorded a remarkable increase in the exportations if compared with 2009, recording over 563 million euro (+54.6% thanks to the item “ships and crafts”).

The aeroplane sector whose activity has specialised in the development, manufacture and maintenance of parts of aircrafts suffered a breakdown in the export flows (-93,9) due to the  collapse of exportations towards U.S.A. and Singapore.

Also the production of ships and crafts, one of the main economic sectors of the Venice province, registered a considerable increase of the export value in 2010 thanks to deliveries to U.S.A. and Norway.
The sector of the shipyard and naval engineering, located in Marghera, is represented by Fincantieri, the covered space of which extends to 380,000m2, where cruise ships and cruise-ferries of up to 250,000 tonnes can be built.  The sector has always had a relevant economic importance in the province of Venice thanks to the high technical skill, the research into design, the ability of the craftsmen which contribute to make the Venetian shipbuilding be appreciated worldwide.
To demonstrate the strong projection of the major Venetian shipyards towards the world market of the sector, suffice it to remember that “boats and crafts” were always in the first places on the list of the main commodities exported by the province of  Venice.
The shipbuilding also produces a whole series of other crafts: motor launches – speedboats, cabin-cruisers, yachts, fishing boast – for sailing and industry – the latter for the most part destined for activities in the Laguna. Among the numerous allied industries, the nautical upholstery sector comes out.

The shipyards dedicated to the so-called minor scale nautical world – jewel of the lagoon tradition – are also located within the historical centre of Venice, where small yards and naval carpenters produce: working boats, small boats of less than 10 metres in length and boats characteristic of the Venetian lagoon (gondolas, mascarete, carline, toppe). From the initiative of some professionals of the sector, comes the Consorzio per la Cantieristica Minore Veneziana, which associates, supports and promotes a score of small and medium sized companies located in the nautical centre of Giudecca.
To promote the sector of Venetian shipyard work, Consormare – Consortium for the promotion of nautical tourism in Veneto, with about 35 associated companies operating in the nautical sector and its allied activities – has been one of the organisers of the “Salone Nautico Internazionale di Venezia – Festival del mare” every March. The most significant exhibitors of the sectors of the marine world participate, with particular regard to the nautical sector, marketing of pleasure boats, cruise ships, fishing boats, tourist boats and boats for internal waterways, to tourist – recreational infrastructure, to navigation equipment, with a strong presence of vintage style motorboats.