According to the study, the global new-build yacht market is expected to reach €33.3 billion in 2025, down 2.1% compared to 2023, reflecting a progressive stabilisation phase following the post-pandemic rebound. Entry-level boating, outboard-powered craft and parts of the small boat segment are experiencing the sharpest slowdown, while the premium and superyacht sectors continue to demonstrate stronger resilience.
Against this backdrop, Italian shipbuilding remains firmly on a growth trajectory. Between 2023 and 2025, the sector recorded a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 5%, with total production value estimated between €5.4 and €5.5 billion. Large yachts and superyachts account for around 70% of total domestic production, confirming Italy’s strong specialisation in the upper end of the market.
Among the speakers at the event were Roberta Laveneziana of Borsa Italiana – Gruppo Euronext, Marina Stella, General Director of Confindustria Nautica, Confindustria Nautica President Piero Formenti, Stefano Pagani Isnardi, Head of Research at the association, together with Antonio Solinas and Tommaso Nastasi from Deloitte Advisory Italy.
“It would be incorrect to describe the current scenario as a market crisis,” said Nastasi. “What we are seeing is a transition towards a more stable market environment, although the industry remains significantly larger and structurally healthier than in the pre-Covid period.” Deloitte also highlighted how the yachting sector has continued to outperform global GDP growth between 2020 and 2025, despite slowing compared to the rapid expansion in Ultra High Net Worth Individuals’ wealth.
Italy’s leadership is particularly evident in the inboard and superyacht sectors. Inboard-powered yachts represent 93% of Italian production, compared to 56% globally. Italy also maintains a dominant position in the superyacht segment over 30 metres, accounting for 56% of global orders by volume and 36% by value, both figures showing further growth compared to 2024.
Exports remain one of the sector’s key strategic pillars. As Stefano Pagani Isnardi pointed out, around 90% of Italian production is destined for international markets, with 70% exported outside the EU. Italian yacht exports are expected to approach €4.4 billion in 2025, despite weaker demand from the United States, partly impacted by tariff policies and trade tensions.
The conference also highlighted the ongoing evolution of the customer base, with younger owners placing increasing emphasis on design, technology, connectivity and onboard experience rather than pure status symbolism. Deloitte expects future demand to continue shifting towards larger yachts with higher technological content and greater unit value, while services such as after-sales support, marinas and refit infrastructure are expected to become increasingly strategic.
Looking ahead, market sentiment for 2026 suggests a further stabilisation phase (-0.7%), before a gradual recovery from 2027 onwards, with global demand forecast to grow by around 3% annually. Geopolitical instability, trade barriers and currency volatility remain the industry’s main concerns going forward.
