There’s little doubt about which countries are the biggest superyacht builders. Italy, a major player in the leisure shipbuilding industry for more than a century, remains the clear leader, accounting for 50 percent of global superyacht production, according to Boat International’s Global Order Book 2026. Rounding out the top three are Turkey in second place and the Netherlands in third place, unchanged, with Turkey showing “phenomenal growth in recent years” as the Netherlands shows “relative stability.”
But the map of yacht builders is much broader than these three, with shipyards from different countries around the world winning a growing share of new build orders through specialism, scale and proximity to an increasing segment of new owners. Three countries in particular stand out, namely Poland, the United Arab Emirates and China. Here, we take a closer look at what they are doing right.
Poland: Catamaran specialisation and volume production
Poland ranked in ninth place in the 2026 Global Order Book, with a total length of 753 metres of superyachts on order or under construction. Leading multihull builder Sunreef was the main driver behind most orders, as the Gdańsk-based shipyard rose to sixth place among builders of 24m-plus yachts, and is the only catamaran specialist in the top ranking. The shipyard currently counts 35 hulls under construction, according to data from SYTiQ, driven by increased demand for catamaran superyachts. Recent orders include the 100 Sunreef Power, built in Poland, and the Ultima 88, under construction at Sunreef’s facility in the UAE.
Galeon follows a different path. Founded in 1982, the family-owned shipyard has delivered approximately 2,800 yachts as one of Europe’s most prolific semi-custom builders. Building yachts between 4 and 26 metres in length out of two facilities, the yacht manufacturer is capable of building up to 160 yachts per year. Galeon’s 25.3-metre flagship, the Galeon 800 Fly, places the shipyard in superyacht territory and gives owners a way to move up in size within the same brand.
UAE: Scaling close to a growing market
The United Arab Emirates had 30 projects and 973 metres of superyachts on order or in build according to the 2026 Global order book, well ahead of Poland and China. Securing eighth place, one of the best-known and successful yacht builders from China remains Gulf Craft. Founded in 1982, the shipyard builds yachts at its main facility in Umm Al Quwain and runs a service facility in Ajman.
Part of the yacht manufacturer’s success is linked to its two main yacht brands that appeal to different buyer groups. Its brand Majesty offers semi-custom flybridge cruisers and larger superyachts up to 54 metres in length, like Majesty 175, which was advertised as the largest composite superyacht when the first hull was launched in 2020. The Nomad brand offers explorer-style yachts for long-range cruising, with six of the larger Nomad 101 models delivered or under construction according to SYTiQ. Sunreef’s decision to open a manufacturing shipyard in the UAE also showcases how the country is attracting foreign yacht builders.
China: from contract builder to offering its own brands
While China’s superyacht orderbook may be a bit smaller than the other two, at 544 metres across 17 projects, placing it in eleventh place, its role in the global superyacht industry is bigger than these figures suggest. Foreign shipyards and yacht builders have been constructing superyachts in the country for years. For example, American yacht builder Nordhavn constructs its larger models at a partner shipyard, South Coast Marine in Xiamen. Florida-based yacht manufacturer Marlow goes further, building its long-range Explorer yachts at its own Norsemen Shipyard near Xiamen, opened in 2003.
China-owned yacht builders are now growing at a faster pace as well. For example, Aquila power catamarans, developed with US dealer MarineMax, are built by Sino Eagle in Hangzhou, one of the world’s largest powercat manufacturers. Hong Kong family shipyard Cheoy Lee builds both yachts and commercial vessels at its shipyard in Doumen, Zhuhai.
What does this mean for buyers?
More yacht builders across more countries means buyers have more choice when it comes to price, models, specialisation and build slots. But it also means buyers have more homework to do before finding the right shipyard; a builder’s track record, after-sales support and finances matter just as much as location. Turkey shows how far a growing market can go. It overtook the Netherlands in the 2024 Global Order Book. But Boat International notes that inflation of around 30 percent is raising Turkish production costs and reducing competitiveness, a reminder that a cost advantage does not always last, and that things can always shift when you least expect it.
