The Balearic Islands lead Spain’s recreational boating market, growing 16.5% through July

The Balearic Islands continue to hold their position as Spain’s leading recreational boating market. Between January and July 2026, 621 recreational boats were registered in the archipelago, 16.5% more than during the same period the previous year. This makes the Islands the Spanish province with the highest number of registrations. The figures come from the January–July 2026 Recreational Boating Market Report, prepared by the Spanish National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN) using data from the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine.

The Balearic market significantly outperformed Spain as a whole. A total of 3,934 boats were registered nationwide between January and July, representing cumulative growth of 6.8% compared with the same period in 2025. However, the sector’s growth slowed in July, when 829 boats were registered, 7% fewer than in July last year. According to ANEN, this trend means that the market’s performance during the second half of the year should be monitored closely.

After the Balearic Islands, the provinces with the highest level of activity in the overall market were Barcelona, with 481 registrations, up 7.8% year on year, and Madrid, with 306 registrations, representing an increase of 15%. Girona, Murcia and Alicante completed the top six, confirming the strong importance of the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands within Spain’s recreational boating market.

The market for boats intended for nautical charter also continued to perform positively. Between January and July, 1,288 boats were registered for this purpose in Spain, 9.6% more than during the same period in 2025. Nevertheless, July also recorded a temporary fall of 8.5%, in line with the slowdown observed in the overall market.

The Balearic Islands once again led this segment, with 320 boats registered for charter use. They were followed by Girona, with 168, and Barcelona, with 115, consolidating the archipelago’s leading position in both the overall market and the charter boat sector. The ranking also highlights the continued importance of boat charter in the Mediterranean’s main tourist destinations.