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European boating industry
The boating industry in Europe is a dynamic and competitive sector and a significant contributor to the European economy. The total industry is made up of boatbuilders, engine manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, trade and service providers and consists of approximately 32,000 companies, directly employing over 280,000 people.
The boating industry is mainly made up of small and medium-sized enterprises (97% of businesses are SMEs) and a small number of large companies (over 1 000 employees). On its own, the boatbuilding sector consists of 3,600 companies employing over 82,000 people. The production of recreational craft is very diverse and ranges from series to one-off boats, which are built-to-order.
The boating industry is also a highly internationalised sector. Traditionally, European companies have exported mainly to other countries within the EU and to the US. New markets are emerging, however, and European companies are increasingly exporting to Asia, South America and Russia.
With over 37,000 km of inland waterways and more than 70,000 km of coastline, Europe offers the perfect environment for the 48 million European citizens who regularly participate in recreational marine activities (36 million of whom are boaters), as well as countless numbers of tourists. Over 6 million boats are kept in European waters while 10,000 marinas provide over 1 million berths both inland and in coastal areas.
Registrations of recreational boats in Spain are approaching 5,000
The recreational boating market in Spain closed 2025 with a stable performance compared to 2024 and with positive growth in the last quarter of the year, especially in the shorter length segments, according to the 2025 Recreational Boating Market Report, prepared by ANEN based on data from the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine.
During the year as a whole, 4,992 recreational boats were registered in Spain, representing a slight decrease of -0.9% compared to 2024, while the rental market registered 1,418 registrations (-19.3%), with a more pronounced adjustment after the strong growth experienced in previous years.
Registrations of recreational boats showed weaker performance until May, followed by a strong recovery in the last quarter, which allowed the year to close with a stabilizing trend. December saw a 14% increase, confirming the improved market momentum in the final stretch of the year.
ANEN’s CEO, Jordi Carrasco, stated that “2025 has been a year of adjustment and consolidation for the nautical sector, following the strong growth experienced in previous years. The positive trend in the last quarter, especially for smaller vessels, confirms that recreational boating maintains a solid demand base and a remarkable capacity to adapt to a more demanding economic environment.”
THE REPORT | MAR 2026 | ISSUE 115 | 25
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