€19 billion spent on new boats in 2015

Growth of 14% on 2014

The global market for new boats was worth a staggering €19 billion in 2015, according to estimates by Deloitte and Fondazione Altagamma. This amounts to more than 800,000 new boats sold in 2016 compared to 700,000 new craft in 2014. The same report claims the used boat market was worth around €14 billion last year.

If accurate, the figure for new boat sales represents a growth of 12% on the previous year, a much bigger leap than the 4-5% growth, which European manufacturers were reporting at the Cannes boat show.

With 295 superyachts (longer than 30m) worth a further €9 billion already in the order book for 2016, the market shows no sign of slowing. Early feedback from the Cannes show suggests this is also true for the production boat market.

The figures were presented at the yachting festival in Cannes by Nautica Italica, a trade body representing the Italian marine industry.

The report goes on to say that Italy is the leading producer of new boats in Europe with a production value of €1.7 billion, nearly 10% of the global total.

The UK is second (6.9%), the Netherlands third (6.5%), followed by Germany (6.4%) and France (5.7%). Only the US ranks higher with a 43% global share of the market.

“The pleasure boat market is recovering after a few years of crisis,” said Deloitte’s Tommaso Nastasi.