Brunswick to close plant in Brazil

Brunswick Corp. said in March that it will immediately start to wind down its boat manufacturing operations in Brazil as the country continues to face challenging economic conditions. The Joinville, Santa Catarina plant will be shut and the production of certain Bayliner and Sea Ray models being built there for the South American market will be moved.

“The region’s continued weak economy has made it difficult to profitably serve these markets with a dedicated manufacturing facility,” Huw Bower, president of Brunswick Boat Group, said in a statement. “With our existing commercial infrastructure and channel presence, we can return to our previous model of importing boats to the region to more efficiently and effectively fulfill demand to this important market.”

The company did not immediately say where those boats would be manufactured.

Brunswick said the decision has no impact on its strategy or plans for its Mercury Marine business or life fitness business in the region.