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Recreational Boat & Yacht building in France - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Revenue

€2.0bn

2025

€2.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

9,379

Businesses

367

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Recreational Boat & Yacht building in France industry analysis

The French boat and yacht building industry is characterised by respected traditional craftsmanship that generates local and international interest. Most French-made vessels are exported to the world’s wealthiest individuals, driving revenue. According to Eurostat, 75% of boats made in France were exported in 2023, mainly to EU and US customers, allowing French shipyards to bolster order books. The rising number of US millionaires and global visitors to the French Rivera has increased the appetite for the most expensive superyachts, which is the main focus of large boat builders. As of July 2024, yacht sales in France were down compare to 2023 as stated by the Monaco Yacht Show Report 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • Import and exports tank over 2022, weighing on revenue growth. Supply chain stalls meant shipyards struggled to keep production going, with builders having to confront their clients with longer delivery times, weighing on trade volumes and export revenue in 2022.
  • Russia sanctions impact super yacht orders while overseas orders climb. Sanctions imposed on Russia over 2022 restricted sales to super-rich Russian Oligarchs. Yet, wealthy Europeans and North Americans and a growing Middle Eastern market mitigated this impact on order volumes.
  • 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.
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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 France in 2025?

The market size of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in France is €2.0bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in France industry in 2025?

There are 367 businesses in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in France, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in France grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in France has been growing at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in France over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in France is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building market in France?

The biggest companies operating in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building market in France are Fountaine Pajot SA, Beneteau SA and Dufour Yachts

What does the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in France include?

Motor yachts over 14 metres and Motorboats under 14 metres are part of the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in France?

The company holding the most market share in France is Fountaine Pajot SA.

How competitive is the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in France?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Recreational Boat & Yacht building industry in France.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

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.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Recreational Boat & Yacht building in France 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.

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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 France 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?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

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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