The Italian yacht industry closed 2025 with a new historical record, reaching a total turnover of 8.72 billion euros. The figure, up by 1.4% compared to 2024, confirms the solidity of the sector despite an uneven growth among the different segments. The announcement was announced during the preview of the 6th International Boat Show of Genoa, on the occasion of the Boating Economic Forecast, an event dedicated to the new edition of “La Nautica in Cifre – LOG”, realized by Confindustria Nautica in collaboration with Fondazione Edison and IULM COMAR.
Export and international leadership
A key element of the success of the sector is export, which in 2025 reached 4.4 billion euros, an increase of 2.6% compared to the previous year. Italy confirms itself as one of the main protagonists of international nautical, especially in the superyacht segment. The Italian yards hold 52% of global orders per unit above 24 meters, with 568 units in progress. The Italian share on world exports is 21.3%, a figure that emphasizes the strong international vocation of nautical made in Italy.
The growth of the sector is based on a combination of factors: export, innovation and specialization of districts. The national production of shipbuilding has reached 5.47 billion euros, with an increase of 0.5% regarding 2024. The growth mainly concerns the entrobord units, climbs of 1.3%, while the compartments linked to the small nautical, as outboard units, tires and sailing boats, continue to record difficulties.
A concentrated but dynamic sector
The area of the Alto Mediterraneo, between Liguria and Tuscany, represents alone more than half of the national total, demonstrating the concentration of the sector in specific districts. Almost 90% of the Italian shipbuilding turnover is concentrated in five territorial poles, with a production network closely linked to international markets. The Italian boat is not limited to the production of boats, but also includes a significant sector of accessories, components and equipment. In 2025, the total turnover of this supply chain reached 2,03 billion euros, up by 0.4%. National production increased by 0.5%, with 47% of export value. This confirms the importance of the accessories sector in the nautical chain, which evolves in a more complex and selective phase after years of growth.
The growth of the sector is not uniform, but is based on a combination of key factors: export, innovation and specialization. The sector also recorded an increase in the workforce. Direct employees rose to 32.420, with an increase of 3% compared to 2024. The entire nautical chain, which includes activities directly and indirectly linked, involves about 170,000 workers. The economic contribution of the Italian GDP sector is estimated at 7.51 billion euros, equal to 3.32 per thousand of national GDP.
According to Piero Formenti, president of Confindustria Nautica, the sector has reached a new historical maximum in a deeply changed international context. However, the overall figure should be read in its joint: after years of generalized double-digit growth, today they coexist different performances between the different segments. The leadership of the top of the range and the international vocation of the Italian boat continue to represent elements of strength, while the small boat faces the second consecutive year of difficulty.