On 18 November 2025 at the Superyacht Forum in Amsterdam, the superyacht sector received a definitive, data-driven assessment of its true economic weight. The global economic impact of the superyacht industry has now reached €54 billion, a figure that reshapes the narrative around an industry often caricatured in headlines but seldom understood in economic terms.
Presented in collaboration with SYBass and Superyacht Life, the study synthesised the most comprehensive datasets the sector has ever produced. Industry surveys, AIS data, charter usage, financial analysis validated by Deloitte, international brokerage statistics and fifty expert interviews formed its backbone. The result was an iceberg-shaped model, a fitting metaphor for a sector whose visible luxury disguises the vast industrial, technological and economic structure beneath.
The power behind the polish: new builds, refits and fleet use
The new build sector remains the cornerstone of the industry’s economic engine. In 2022 alone, 221 superyachts were delivered, generating €7.2 billion in direct global impact and €20 billion when accounting for downstream effects. Europe dominates production with 78.4% of the global share, driven largely by Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. The ripple effect of a single new build is immense: hull and superstructure account for 21% of spending, mechanical systems for 20%, luxury interiors for 11%, and crew and technical interiors for 9%, with dozens of specialised sectors contributing to every finished vessel. The study underscored that new builds “amplify the impact of all other sectors” and remain a powerful accelerator for innovation and employment.
Refit, however, emerged as the most rapidly expanding segment. With 141 refit facilities worldwide, the sector generated €2.3 billion in direct impact and €5.6 billion in total economic contribution. The United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey and France lead the market, supported by the growing number of ageing superyachts requiring renewal, upgrades and sustainability-driven retrofits. Larger yachts, in particular, drive significant spend, with the 60m+ category accounting for 22% of all refit visits despite representing a fraction of the global fleet.
The brokerage and charter markets added further variation. While often overlooked in macroeconomic discussions, these sectors contribute substantially, with €278 million in brokerage commissions and €250 million in charter commissions. Larger yachts again generate disproportionate value. For instance, for vessels over 60m, charter commission value reached €118 million in a single year. Yet notably, the report pointed out that brokerage and charter calculations exclude €5.2 billion worth of transactions, illustrating how conservative the headline figures may actually be.
The fleet operation analysis dismantled the perception that economic impact ends once a yacht is delivered. The reality is the opposite. With nearly 6,000 superyachts currently active, each vessel contributes €9 million annually to the economy. The day-to-day running of the fleet generates €12.1 billion in direct impact and €27.1 billion in total effect. Crew costs dominate expenditure at 37%, followed by maintenance (20%), operating costs (16.5%), administration (6.7%) and fuel (nearly 6%). Tourism generated by yacht use contributes a further €3.8 billion, feeding ports, marinas, hospitality, transport and local supply chains across global cruising hubs.
Fleet composition influenced spending patterns significantly. While 30-40m yachts make up 63% of the global fleet, they account for only 39% of the expense share. Vessels over 60m, representing just 9% of the fleet, are responsible for 29% of all operating expenditure, reinforcing how strongly larger yachts shape the economic landscape.
A global ecosystem driven by UHNWIs
Ownership trends were another key insight of the session. The United States leads with 23% of global superyacht owners, followed by Russia and Saudi Arabia. When measured by total length overall (LOA), US, Russian and Saudi owners again rank among the top three, influencing the industry’s direction, cultural footprint and operational distribution.
The study’s closing messages were unambiguous. The superyacht sector’s €22.2 billion direct impact combined with €31.7 billion in indirect impact demonstrates the powerful trickle-down effect generated by UHNWIs. Far from being a closed luxury bubble, the industry stimulates employment, strengthens supply chains, accelerates R&D investment and supports thousands of SMEs worldwide.
The final slide summarised it best. €54 billion flows into the maritime ecosystem every year, driving innovation, supporting communities and showcasing the true industrial scale of the superyacht world.
What the public sees above the waterline, such as elegant silhouettes cutting through Mediterranean bays, is only a fragment of the story because beneath that surface lies a complex, high-value economic engine.
Rebecca Gabbi