Italian Leading Yacht Builders Report Steady Growth Despite Varying Trends: Q1 2025 Results Reveal

Italian shipbuilding giants Sanlorenzo, Ferretti Group, and The Italian Sea Group present an encouraging Q1 outlook for 2025, indicating a sustained growth in the industry.

Despite the different narratives behind the numbers, these leading yards continue to experience a positive shift in demands toward larger, bespoke vessels. This trend has helped offset the lessened interest in lower-volume composite yacht sales. Interestingly, the compound annual growth rates for all three companies have witnessed a range from 1 to nearly 10 per cent year-on-year.

While hurdles such as macroeconomic uncertainty cast shadows over smaller craft sales in Europe and the US, the shipbuilders cite durable order books and an increasing appetite for high-value builds as the primary drivers of their performance.

However, it’s not all smooth sailing. A shift in product mix and softer demand for vessels under 30 metres has led to a decline in the Yacht division of both Sanlorenzo and Ferretti. But they remain undeterred, asserting their focus on market consolidation and expansion into higher-margin segments.

Sanlorenzo’s shares also rose by 3.7 per cent during the quarter, despite a swing to a net debt position. This shift is attributed to seasonal working capital flows, impending summer deliveries, and recent acquisitions. As for The Italian Sea Group, they maintain an impressive stable growth, promising an exciting year ahead for the shipbuilding industry.

Indeed, the future looks bright for these Italian shipbuilding titans. As exhibited by their Q1 playbooks, their well-defined industrial and commercial strategies, combined with persistent market presence and innovation, are paving the way for continued success.