Cantieristica navale e nautica: ricavi in crescita ma manca organico

In 2026, the Italian naval and nautical construction sector is projected to see a 2.6% increase in revenue, primarily driven by exports (+3.2%). Domestic market growth is expected at +1.2%. Over the past decade (2016-2025), the sector's revenue surged by 115.8%, outperforming other major transport segments. This growth was observed not only in foreign markets but also in the domestic market.

The export sector expanded by 122.9%, while domestic sales grew by 100.5%. The added value also showed a significant increase of 134.9%, highlighting the industry's growing ability to generate value through technological and industrial content. The 141 monitored companies recorded an aggregate revenue of 14.8 billion euros in 2025, a 10.8% increase from 2024.

Foreign sales continue to play a central role, accounting for around 65% of total sales. Employment in the sector also grew by 6.9%, reflecting a stronger production capacity. Looking ahead to 2026, 52% of companies anticipate revenue growth, 19% foresee substantial stability, and 29% predict a decline in sales. Overall, the sector expects revenue growth of 2.6%.

However, the industry faces a bottleneck: human capital emerges as a major hindrance to competitiveness. 91% of companies reported difficulties in finding personnel. The issue stems from a mismatch between available skills and business needs, highlighted by 79% of respondents, and a shortage of candidates, noted by 55% of respondents.

The focus is on technical and specialized profiles, required by 84.3% of companies, and operational and manual skills (58.8%). Consequently, 75% of companies must resort to foreign labor to fill manpower and skill gaps.