The superyacht market is the strongest it has been for several years, as shown in the Global Order Book. There are more superyachts being built around the world now than at any time since the end of the global financial crisis.
After a record high of 1,008 projects in 2009, the market fell dramatically by 25% in 2010 and dipped to a low of 692 superyachts in build in 2013. The market then began to pick back up again in 2014, rising to a figure of 735. The latest study found that there are currently 755 yachts longer than 24 metres being built.
From January to December 2015, there has been €3.01 billion in superyacht transactions, the same as in 2014 and up hugely on 2013’s figure of £2.2 billion.
“Compared to where we were in 2010, when just 184 superyachts were sold, 2015’s performace is pretty incredible, and shows that buyers are back and that they’re building bigger and better superyachts than ever,” said Kate Lardy, editor of Showboats International.
“It’s also great news for the superyacht industry that the growth seen in 2014 has been repeated,” added Lardy. “We track all yards extremely closely, and have recorded an allied increase in confidence throughout the sector.”
The market has been boosted by the growing demand for explorer yachts. The surge in explorer yachts comes as owners seek to visit remote destinations. An increase of 17% on last years explorer yacht builds is accompanied by a healthy 9% increase for mid-size yachts.
Italy is still the biggest superyacht producer in the world with a staggering 286 superyachts in build. This is in part thanks to the world’s leading superyacht shipyard, Azimut Benetti, which has 63 superyachts in build.
The Netherlands is in second place and Turkey in third. Taiwan, the United States and the United Kingdom complete the top six.
The world’s biggest superyacht in build this year is known as Project Omar. The 156 metre motor yacht is being built at German yard Lürssen, the company responsible for the biggest yacht in the world: the 180 metre Azzam.