This is revealed by the report produced by Deloitte in collaboration with Confindustria Nautica. Italy is growing, driven by the superyacht segment.
Milan – The global recreational boating market is stabilizing after the post-Covid boom, but Italy continues to grow and strengthens its leadership in the superyacht segment. This emerges from the fourth edition of the report “The State of the Art of the Global Yachting Market”, produced by Deloitte in collaboration with Confindustria Nautica and presented today at the Italian Stock Exchange.
According to the study, in 2025 the global market for new boat builds reaches 33.3 billion euros, recording a decline of 2.1% compared to 2023. A dynamic that reflects the progressive normalization of demand after the strong rebound recorded in the post-pandemic period.
In this scenario, the Italian shipbuilding industry is moving in clear contrast. Between 2023 and 2025, the sector grows with a CAGR of 5%, reaching an estimated production value between 5.4 and 5.5 billion euros. Driving the sector are above all large yachts and superyachts, which represent approximately 70% of national production.
Italy also confirms its global leadership in the superyacht sector: in 2025 it holds 56% of the global market in terms of units produced and 36% in terms of value, up from the 34% recorded in 2024. A result sustained above all by the strong presence in the segment between 30 and 60 meters.
Piero Formenti, president of Confindustria Nautica, underlines the resilience of the Italian boating industry which, despite the global slowdown, continues to grow and strengthen its leadership in high-value-added superyachts. Also central is the role of the Genoa International Boat Show as a strategic platform for the international development of the sector. “Moments of discussion like these with the financial world certainly constitute an important opportunity to learn about new tools suitable for supporting consolidation and capital strengthening processes for companies,” Formenti further emphasizes.
For Tommaso Nastasi of Deloitte, the Italian shipbuilding industry continues to perform better than the global market thanks to its strong specialization in large yachts, a segment considered more resilient to the global economic context.
Italian specialization also emerges in the type of boats built. The inboard segment in fact represents 93% of national production, compared to a global average of 56%, confirming the positioning of Made in Italy in the premium market segment. The role of exports is decisive: approximately 90% of Italian production is destined for international markets and 70% of exports go to non-EU countries. In 2024, the boating sector contributed 8.6% to the Italian trade surplus, consolidating the strategic weight of the sector for national manufacturing.
On the global front, the entry-level and mid-size segments show signs of slowing down, while the high end of the market continues to demonstrate greater resilience. In 2024, the inboard segment reached 59% of the global market, followed by outboard with 33% and sailing with 8%.
Nord America ed Europa restano le aree centrali del business nautico internazionale, rappresentando insieme il 75% del valore globale delle nuove imbarcazioni.
Anche il mercato dei superyacht mantiene volumi importanti. Nel 2025 il global order book si attesta a 677 unità, con il segmento 30-40 metri che pesa per il 45% del totale. Il valore complessivo degli ordini nel 2024 ha raggiunto i 29 miliardi di euro, in crescita del 4% rispetto all’anno precedente.
Nel corso del 2025 si registra però un rallentamento nella raccolta ordini, accompagnato da una crescente polarizzazione della domanda verso yacht superiori ai 50 metri. Una tendenza che conferma la solidità della fascia ultra-luxury.
Secondo gli analisti, il 2026 sarà ancora caratterizzato da una sostanziale stabilizzazione del mercato, con una lieve flessione stimata intorno allo 0,7%. Il segmento premium e quello dei superyacht dovrebbero però continuare a performare meglio rispetto al resto del comparto.
Dal 2027 al 2029 è invece attesa una graduale ripresa della domanda globale, con una crescita media annua stimata intorno al 3%. Tra i principali fattori di rischio restano le tensioni geopolitiche internazionali, le barriere commerciali e i dazi, che potrebbero incidere sulla marginalità delle imprese e sulle strategie commerciali degli operatori del settore. Per la nautica italiana, tuttavia, il posizionamento nell’alto di gamma continua a rappresentare un vantaggio competitivo decisivo, capace di sostenere crescita, export e leadership internazionale anche in una fase di rallentamento del mercato globale.
