Recreational boating market grows by 13.1% in the Balearic Islands in the first four months of 2026

Between January and April, the Balearic Islands recorded 225 registrations of recreational boats, 13.1% more than a year earlier. The archipelago accounted for 14.4% of total national registrations. In the charter market, after growing by 1.7% year-on-year, the Balearic Islands reached 120 registrations, representing 23% of the national total.

The Balearic Islands continue to lead the Spanish nautical market in the first four months of 2026. According to the latest report by the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN), the archipelago has led both the overall market and the charter market. Across Spain as a whole, the nautical market grew by 15.8% in the year to April, with a total of 1,566 registrations.

Between January and April, the Balearic Islands registered 225 recreational boat registrations, 13.1% more than a year earlier, allowing it to consolidate its position as the leading province in the country. Some distance behind were Murcia, with 195 units, and Barcelona, with 183. The Balearic community therefore accounted for 14.4% of total national registrations, maintaining its position as the main driver of the sector in Spain.

In the charter market, after growing by 1.7% year-on-year, the Balearic Islands reached 120 registrations, well ahead of Barcelona, which recorded 76, and Murcia, with 48. In this segment, the archipelago represented 23% of the national total, confirming its strategic importance in tourism activity linked to boating. Across Spain, 522 vessels intended for charter were registered in the first four months of the year, representing growth of 21.4% compared with the end of April 2025.

According to ANEN’s Director General, Jordi Carrasco, “the figures up to April are positive and reflect the usual behaviour of the pre-season, when many registrations of boats acquired for the summer period are consolidated. However, we must interpret them with caution and wait to see how the coming months evolve in order to confirm the trend for the year.”