The global superyacht sales environment in 2025 continues to tilt sharply in favour of sellers, especially for large builds. Industry sources hint that fewer than one in five large yachts are currently listed for sale; putting tremendous upward pressure on valuations and creating a marked scarcity for buyers.
According to the industry-report sneak preview by SuperYacht Times, the market for yachts over 30 metres recorded 195 new-yacht sales and 305 used-yacht sales in 2024.
Although the report did not explicitly state the “19% listed” figure, commentary from brokers and analysts points to a constrained availability of large yachts for sale. This dynamic is confirmed by multiple market players reporting shorter listing times, fewer resale opportunities and elevated pricing across the board.
What is fueling this scarcity?
- Strong buyer demand: Wealth accumulation among ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and continued appetite for experiential luxury-mobility assets mean more capital chasing fewer available vessels.
- New-build backlog and delivery delays: Shipyards remain challenged by supply-chain pressures, workforce constraints and rising input costs for steel and systems. The effect is that fewer new yachts drop into resale channels, tightening the pool further.
- Owners hanging on: With charter demand, favourable tax regimes in certain jurisdictions and a strong lifestyle component, many owners prefer to retain their vessels rather than sell.
- Scalability constraints: Large yachts require high working capital, crew, maintenance and logistic capability; the threshold for sale is high and resale options limited outside of leading brokerage houses.
Impacts on the market
- Premium pricing: With fewer listed units and strong demand, brokers are seeing list prices stable or increasing even in a broader market where costs are rising.
- Charter and buy-for-charter strategies: Prospective buyers are switching to chartering or fractional ownership models until listing availability improves.
- Having access to trusted advisors matters: Owners, buyers and charter clients alike must rely on firms that can provide global market intelligence, brokerage capabilities and turnkey services.
Kamnaki Maria, Reservation Manager at DanEri Yachts, says:
“When only about 19 % of large yachts are listed for sale, buyers must shift from reactive to strategic. At DanEri Yachts we are helping clients anticipate availability, secure off-market opportunities and align charter strategies to compensate for tight resale channels.”