Industry Statistics and Rankings
How does this industry perform in United Kingdom compared to Europe?
Country Benchmarking
Industry Data United Kingdom
Ranking are out of 37 European countries for which IBISWorld provides country-level factsheets.
Revenue
#4 In EuropeBusiness
#3 In EuropeEmployees
#1 In EuropeWages
#2 In EuropeThe recreational boat and yacht building industry has registered a mixed performance, mainly because of pandemic-related disruptions. The sector's most important market is high-net-worth individuals around the world. The wealthy increasingly acquire yachts, and the super-rich even opt for giga yachts that are over 100 meters long. The increasing spread of the income gap in favour of the already rich and high-income earners is a highly positive development from the industry's point of view, as it means that the buying power of the core target group is increasing in proportion. However, sinking disposable incomes have recently weighed on the motorboat segment.
Enterprises
Number of businesses in 2025
Biggest companies in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue (£m)
2024 | Profit (£m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Azimut Benetti SpA | 1,339.0 | 267.8 | 20.0 | |
Princess Yachts Ltd | 415.3 | -19.6 | -4.7 | |
Sunseeker International Ltd | 359.8 | 7.0 | 1.9 |
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
The market size of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom is £776.9m in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 420 businesses in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom are Azimut Benetti SpA, Princess Yachts Ltd and Sunseeker International Ltd
What does the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom include?
Motor Yatchts and Motorboats and Sailing Boats are part of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom is Azimut Benetti SpA.
How competitive is the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and decreasing in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in the United Kingdom.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
Domestic industries
Competitors
Complementors
International industries
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry manufacture recreational boats and yachts for domestic and export markets. Manufactured products range from luxurious superyachts to inflatable boats and canoes.
Related Terms
HOVERCRAFT SUPERYATCH BALLOON PAYMENT HULLRUNNING PHASEWhat's included in this industry?
Motor YatchtsMotorboats and Sailing Boats Other Boats Inflatable BoatsCompanies
Azimut Benetti SpAPrincess Yachts LtdSunseeker International LtdIndustry Code
3012 - Building of pleasure and sporting boats in United Kingdom
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Performance
Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2024 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue
- Employees
- Business
- Profit
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
US tariffs of 20% on European boats and yachts, paused until July 2025, would sharply reduce the competitiveness of EU-built vessels in the US market. Major Italian, German and Dutch brands, like Riva, Pershing and Ferretti, are seeing their products become 10–20% more expensive, likely leading to a drop in US exports.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Total Imports into United Kingdom
- Total Exports into United Kingdom
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
The boat and yacht building industry faces low concentration. Because of the various types and sizes of motorboats and yacht manufacturers in this industry, it is nearly impossible for boat builders to hold a substantial market share.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Establishments by Region (2025)
Data Tables
- Number of Establishments by Region (2025)
Charts
- Share of Establishments vs. Population of Each Region
Analysis
What regions are businesses in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK located?
Companies
Data Tables
Top 3 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit margin (2025)
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Most manufacturers have to abide by EU regulations. Most product-related regulations in the industry are based on the EU's Directive 2013/53/EU, the so-called Recreational Craft Directive, which sets out various points that must be tested and observed when building boats and yachts.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Manufacturers can pass on cost increases to downstream clients, protecting profit. Most builders have defended themselves against soaring input inflation in recent years by entering into fixed-priced agreements or offloading high input costs onto high-income clients.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in the UK industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
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Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
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