According to ANEN, boat registrations fell between January and August 2025. Despite this trend, appropriate governmental actions and collaboration between the sector’s operators will be able to contribute to new growth in the Spanish yacht market, encouraging innovation and a more sustainable boating approach to the yachting industry.
Spain is geographically and climatically privileged; compared to other European locations, pleasure boating can be practised almost all year round. 8,000 km of coastline, a warm temperate climate and a developed tourist industry – including the Balearic and Canary Islands – are among the strengths of this nation.
However, the Recreational Craft Market Report (January-August 2025), published by ANEN (the National Association of Nautical Enterprises) based on data provided by the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy, reveals a downward trend that impacts the overall marine tourism economy.
The Spanish pleasure boat market in numbers
According to the association, the Spanish yacht market closed the period January-August 2025 with 4,084 registrations, down 5.3% compared to the same period in 2024, when 4,313 units were registered.
August was a particularly bad month, with 400 registrations; this means a drop of 25.4% compared to August 2024.
The charter market, between January and August this year, also accentuated the downward trend: the drop was 20.8% compared to the same period last year.
Analysing boats by length tells us that:
• boats up to 6 m (the largest part of the market with a 69.5% share) totalled 2,837 registrations, 5.5% less than in the first 8 months of 2024;
• the 6-8 m and 8-12 m segments also fell, with declines of -4.1% and -6.3% respectively;
• boats from 12 to 16 m reduced their share by 2.6%;
• vessels over 16 m dropped to -13%.
Also, more in detail:
- Powerboats maintained their leadership with 1,687 registrations and a market share of 41.3%, although they dropped to -6.2% year-on-year.
- Personal watercraft, the second segment by volume (30.7% share), declined by 12.9%, with 1,252 units registered.
- Semi-rigid inflatable boats decreased (down 10.2%), as did sailing boats (down 7.7%).
- Folding inflatable boats remained positive, with an increase of +41.9% and 471 registrations recorded during the period analysed.
The nautical charter market
The nautical charter (pleasure boat rental) market is accentuating its downward trend. Between January and August this year, 1,273 charter boats were registered, a drop of 20.8% compared to the same period in 2024. The decline was concentrated in the smaller segments, especially in boats up to 6 metres, which fell by 24.5%. By type, the biggest drop was in inflatable bikes, both semi-rigid and folding, with decreases of 25.6% and 26.5% respectively; followed by jet skis (-22.5%).
Analysis of the provinces
Carrying out a territorial analysis, the provinces with the highest number of registrations up to August 2025 were the Balearic Islands (544), which continue to lead the market with a share of 13.3%, but a drop of -23.9%, followed by Barcelona (513) with a share of 12.6% and a drop in registrations of 0.4%.
Murcia, with 383 registrations, is in third place with a market share of 9.4% and an increase in its registrations of 75.7%. Alicante follows with 358 registrations, a market share of 8.8% and an increase in registrations of 19.3%.
Stimulating growth and market promotion
According to 6W Research, hindering the growth of the Spanish yacht market are high operating and maintenance costs, which limit yacht ownership to a wealthy clientele. Strict environmental regulations, especially those related to emissions and fuel consumption, further increase compliance costs. In addition, the market is suffering from the economic recession.
Government policies promoting tourism, maritime safety, environmental protection and national regulations, however, ensure that the production and maintenance of yachts comply with safety and environmental standards.
The government supports initiatives to improve the competitiveness of the yachting industry on a global scale by fostering innovation and sustainable boating practices.
By facilitating collaboration between maritime stakeholders, these policies can, over time, stimulate yacht market growth again, ensuring a sustainable approach to marine tourism and contributing to the blue economy.
A strategic association for the Spanish boating industry is ANEN, the National Association of Nautical Enterprises, which brings together more than 90% of the industrial and entrepreneurial fabric of the yachting industry, made up of companies, autonomous nautical associations, nautical-sports facilities and other groups.
Defending the rights of members and the entire sector before the public administrations and obtaining the best legal, fiscal, labour and administrative environment that favours the development of entrepreneurial activity are the elements that inspire ANEN’s mission.
Promoting recreational boating as a sustainable boating and quality tourism option and favourably influencing public opinion are other objectives of the Association’s work. Since its establishment on 19 January 2006, its active presence as an interlocutor in the main national and international forums related to the boating industry has succeeded in attracting the support and involvement of the relevant governmental bodies and the main institutions related to the boating sector.
ANEN is a member of EBI (European Boating Industry), of which it holds the vice-presidency from 2019, and of ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations), organisations representing the boating industry in Europe and worldwide. In Spain, it is a member of the Clúster Marítimo Español (CME) and the Asociación Española de Arbitraje.
ANEN, in collaboration with Fira de Barcelona and some of the leading companies in the nautical sector represented in the Organising Committee, designed the 2025 edition of the Barcelona Boat Show, which took place from 8 to 12 October at the Port Vell (Porto Vecchio), overlooking the Catalan capital’s seafront. The event was organised with the intention of improving the exhibitors’ and visitors’ experience and increasing the quality of the offer, with longer boats, the participation of market leaders and more international shipyards than in the past, to attract a more qualified public with greater decision-making and purchasing capabilities. The focus was also on sustainable boating, the blue economy and innovation, topics that were addressed through a programme of conferences and debates.
SPAIN – STATS & FACTS
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
GDP growth (2024)
- +3,20%
(Source: Trading Economics)
GDP growth per capita (2024)
- + 2.80%
(Source: Trading Economics)
High Net Worth Individuals
- In Spain there are 1.2 million people with a net worth of more than one million dollars
(Source: UBS)
Spain – retail spending (July 2025)
- + 4,7%
(Source: Trading Economics)
Consumer Confidence (July 2025)
- 82.9 index points
(Source: Trading Economics)
Unemployed (second quarter 2025)
- 10,29%
(Source: Trading Economics)
New cars sold (May 2025)
- New car registrations in Spain increased by 18.6% year-on-year to 112,865 units in May 2025
(Source: Trading Economics)
NAUTICAL MARKET INDICATORS
New boat registrations for the period January-August 2025
4,084 (-5.3% compared to the same period in 2024, when 4,313 units were registered).
New boat registrations for August 2025
400 (-25.4% compared to August 2024)
Charter market at -20.8% in January-August 2025, compared to the same period in 2024
- Boat registrations up to 6 m: 24.5%.
- Boat registrations between 6-8 m: – 4,1%
- Boat registrations between 8-12 m: – 6,3%
- Boat registrations between 12-16 m: – 2,6
- Boat registrations over 16 m: -13%
Provinces with the highest number of registrations in the period January-August 2025
- Balearic Islands: 544 (13.3% of the market – down 23.9% over the same period in 2024)
- Barcelona: 513 (12.6% of the market – down 0.4% on the same period in 2024)
- Murcia: 383 (9.4% of the market – up 75.7% on the same period of 2024)
- Alicante: 358 (8.8% – +19.3 vs. the same period in 2024)
(Source: ANEN)
| NAUTICAL FLEET REGISTERED IN SPAIN |
| Sailing units |
| Motor unit eb or efb |
| Units with fb motor and rigid units |
| Pneumatic units |
| PWCs |
| TOTAL |
| (Source: ICOMIA 2020) |
