The Italian boatbuilding industry has bucked the global market trend, increasing by around 5% in the period from 2023 to 2025, with approximately 70% of Italian production value attributable to large yachts and superyachts.
According to a report The State of the Art of the Global Yachting Market produced by Deloitte in partnership with Confindustria Nautica, the Italian Marine Industry Association, the global market for new boat builds in the 2023–2025 period was down slightly (-2.1%) to €33.3 billion.
Over the 2020–2025 period, the sector outperformed global GDP (+3% CAGR) yet grew less than the wealth of ultra high net worth Individuals (+11% CAGR), driven by the strong performance of financial markets (+14% CAGR).
In particular, the entry-level and mid-size segments have slowed, while the large yacht sector has demonstrated greater structural resilience.
National production
The value of Italian boatbuilding was estimated at between €5.4 and €5.5 billion in 2025.
The inboard segment dominates the sector with 93% of national production compared to 56% globally.
Exports remain a strategic driving force for the sector with 90% of Italy’s production destined for international markets, 70% of which is exported to non-EU countries.
The global order book stood at 677 units in 2025 with the 30–40-metre segment accounting for 45% of the total, the 40–60-metre segment for around 40% and the segment over 60 metres for the remaining 15%.
In 2024, the total value of the order book reached around €29 billion, up 4% on the previous year, with the over 60-metre segment accounting for 55% of the total value.
During 2025 there was a slowdown in order intake, but with a demand mix skewed towards the over 50-metre segment.
A rebound is expected
The report points to a rebound in the 2026–2029 period with a slight contraction expected for 2026 of around -0.7%, an improvement on the trend observed in the 2024–2025 period.
The premium and superyacht segments continue to show greater resilience compared to the overall market trend (+0.9%).
For the whole 2026–2029 period, the outlook points to a gradual recovery in demand, with expected growth of around 3% per annum.
However, external risk factors remain, with more significant impacts on the small boat sector and potential inflationary pressures on raw materials and semi-finished products as well as trade barriers introduced by the United States.
