Tunisia’s luxury yacht and pleasure boat industry has expanded into a €500 million export business, with approximately 75 companies now operating in the sector as local manufacturers compete for international customers. The North African country is using its skilled workforce, competitive production costs and proximity to Europe to establish a stronger presence in the global marine manufacturing industry.
According to Reuters on November 9, 2026, Tunisia Luxury Yacht Industry exports reached approximately €500 million ($558 million) in 2025, while the number of companies operating in the sector increased from around 20 a decade earlier to 75. The expansion has created opportunities for Tunisian-owned manufacturers to produce complete luxury vessels for international markets.
The industry’s growth is also strengthening Tunisia Yacht Manufacturing, with local companies developing capabilities in design, production, outfitting and after-sales services. Industry representatives say foreign technical expertise, including cooperation with Italian companies, has contributed to the development of local manufacturing skills.
In Bizerte, Tunisian entrepreneur Tarek Rassas operates a boatbuilding business producing approximately 10 yachts annually, with individual vessels selling for up to €400,000. His company is among the manufacturers seeking to expand production as Tunisia’s marine industry targets a doubling of exports by 2030.
Tunisia Luxury Yacht Industry Generates €500 Million in Annual Exports
The Tunisia Luxury Yacht Industry has developed into an important export-oriented manufacturing activity, with the country’s marine industry trade association reporting approximately €500 million in yacht and pleasure boat exports in 2025.
The figure is equivalent to around $558 million at the exchange rate cited by Reuters.
The export value demonstrates the commercial scale reached by the sector after a decade of expansion.
Tunisia’s marine manufacturers supply international customers, including buyers in European markets, where the country benefits from its geographical proximity.
The industry has developed despite the limited domestic market for luxury vessels.
Average wages in Tunisia remain only a few hundred dollars a month, according to Reuters, placing expensive pleasure boats outside the financial reach of many local consumers.
As a result, international demand is central to the sector’s business model.
Manufacturers produce vessels and marine components for customers abroad, generating export earnings through specialised industrial production.
However, the €500 million figure covers yachts and pleasure boats across the sector and should not be interpreted as revenue generated by a single company.
The trade association did not provide a detailed breakdown of exports by destination or vessel category.
Tunisia Yacht Manufacturing Expands From 20 to 75 Companies
The number of companies operating in Tunisia Yacht Manufacturing has increased substantially over the past decade.
Montassar Dhiaf, head of Tunisia’s Marine Industries Association, told Reuters that the sector now includes approximately 75 companies, compared with around 20 ten years earlier.
This represents an increase of about 55 businesses and a company count approximately 3.75 times its previous size.
The expansion indicates that more manufacturers and marine industry businesses are participating in the sector.
Dhiaf also said many of the companies are now Tunisian-owned and operated.
This marks a change from an earlier period when foreign companies played a more dominant role in the industry.
The shift is important because it indicates that Tunisian entrepreneurs and businesses have developed a greater presence in marine manufacturing.
However, the company count does not establish the number of jobs created across the entire sector.
Reuters also did not provide total industry employment figures or annual production volumes.
The confirmed development is a substantial increase in the number of companies, accompanied by a stronger presence of locally owned manufacturers.
Tarek Rassas Builds Luxury Yachts From Bizerte
Tarek Rassas is among the Tunisian entrepreneurs participating in the industry’s expansion.
His company, Rassas Composites, operates in Bizerte, a northern Tunisian port city with a growing marine manufacturing presence.
The business was established by his father approximately three decades ago, initially producing small pleasure boats.
It has since expanded into the manufacture of yachts and catamarans for international buyers.
According to Rassas, the company now produces around 10 yachts annually and employs approximately 60 people.
Its vessels sell for up to €400,000 each, depending on the model.
The company operates across five boatyards and is seeking to expand its production capacity.
Rassas described the satisfaction of seeing a completed vessel enter the water after the work involved in its construction.
“It’s like watching your child set sail,” he told Reuters.
His comments illustrate the craftsmanship and technical effort involved in producing vessels that must meet customers’ design and performance requirements.
The company’s development from small pleasure boats to larger luxury vessels also demonstrates the progression of a family-owned manufacturing business over several decades.
Rassas Composites Plans to Double Yacht Production
Rassas Composites is planning to increase its output as demand for luxury catamarans creates opportunities for expansion.
The company currently produces approximately 10 yachts annually and aims to double that volume.
If achieved, the expansion would bring annual production to around 20 vessels, assuming the existing production figure remains the baseline.
However, Reuters did not provide a specific deadline for the planned increase.
The company’s vessels range from approximately 7 to 25 metres in length.
These dimensions allow it to serve different segments of the pleasure boat and luxury yacht market.
Rassas said some luxury catamarans require at least two months to build.
One 11-metre vessel under construction is designed with three cabins and a maximum speed of 25 knots.
These specifications demonstrate the technical requirements involved in producing boats for customers seeking both accommodation and performance.
The business’s expansion plans indicate confidence in its ability to secure additional orders and increase manufacturing capacity.
However, the Reuters report did not disclose the value of its order book or identify the countries receiving its latest vessels.
Tunisia Luxury Yacht Industry Gains Recognition Through 2026 International Award
The Tunisia Luxury Yacht Industry has also gained international recognition through the performance of locally manufactured vessels.
The WAMA 42XL, a luxury catamaran built by a Tunisian company, won the under-45-foot power category at the 2026 Multihull of the Year awards.
The awards recognise new multihull yachts and catamarans in international competition.
The recognition is significant because it places a Tunisian-built vessel among award-winning products in a specialised global manufacturing market.
International awards can provide visibility for manufacturers seeking customers outside their domestic markets.
They may also strengthen awareness of a country’s industrial capabilities.
However, the award does not establish that Tunisia leads the global yacht market or that all Tunisian manufacturers have achieved the same level of recognition.
It demonstrates that at least one locally built vessel secured a major category award in 2026.
The achievement provides evidence of the technical and design capabilities emerging within the country’s marine industry.
Italian Expertise Supports Tunisia Yacht Manufacturing Capabilities
Foreign technical cooperation has played a role in the development of Tunisia Yacht Manufacturing.
Montassar Dhiaf told Reuters that expertise from international companies, especially Italian manufacturers, contributed to technology transfer and the development of local skills.
This cooperation supported the industry’s transition from producing marine components to manufacturing complete vessels.
In earlier stages of industrial development, companies may specialise in supplying individual parts to larger international manufacturers.
As technical capabilities expand, businesses can take on more complex production activities.
Tunisia’s marine sector has followed this progression, according to the trade association.
Dhiaf said Tunisian manufacturers can now manage the complete process, including design, manufacturing, outfitting and after-sales services.
This wider range of capabilities allows companies to participate in more stages of the manufacturing value chain.
It also gives local businesses greater opportunities to establish their own customer relationships.
However, Reuters did not provide a financial estimate of the value added through technology transfer.
The reported progress is based on the industry’s expanded manufacturing capabilities and the growing participation of Tunisian-owned businesses.
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Tunisian Companies Move From Components to Complete Yacht Production
The transition from component manufacturing to complete yacht production represents an important development in Tunisia’s marine industry.
Producing individual components requires technical knowledge, but constructing a complete vessel involves additional responsibilities.
Manufacturers must coordinate design, structural production, equipment installation, interior finishing and quality control.
After-sales services can also become part of the relationship between the manufacturer and the buyer.
According to Dhiaf, Tunisian companies have developed the ability to manage these activities within their operations.
The development creates opportunities for businesses to supply finished products instead of participating only as subcontractors.
It can also strengthen their position when competing for international customers.
However, not every company in the sector necessarily performs every stage of production.
The Reuters report describes the industry’s overall capabilities without providing a detailed operational profile for all 75 companies.
The broader significance lies in the growth of local technical expertise and the ability of Tunisian manufacturers to participate in higher-value marine production activities.
Tunisian Marine Manufacturers Supply International Luxury Yacht Projects
Tunisia’s marine industry also participates in international yacht manufacturing supply chains.
Montassar Dhiaf told Reuters that boatbuilders in Menzel Jemil, near Bizerte, supplied some components used in the luxury superyacht owned by Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
The example illustrates how Tunisian manufacturers can contribute to specialised international marine projects.
However, the report did not identify the individual companies involved or specify which components they supplied.
It also did not establish that the entire superyacht was constructed in Tunisia.
The reported contribution concerns components manufactured by companies operating in Menzel Jemil.
This distinction is important because marine manufacturing can involve businesses in several countries contributing different parts to a finished vessel.
Participation in such supply chains can create opportunities for specialised producers to serve international customers.
The example also demonstrates the industry’s involvement in projects associated with the high-end luxury market.
Nevertheless, the financial value of the components supplied was not disclosed.
French Yacht Manufacturers Operate in Tunisia
International companies continue to play a role in Tunisia’s marine manufacturing industry.
French yacht manufacturers, including Beneteau Group, operate in the country, according to Reuters.
Their presence forms part of a wider industrial environment that includes foreign businesses and Tunisian-owned manufacturers.
International manufacturing activity can create opportunities for cooperation, supplier relationships and the development of technical skills.
Tunisia’s proximity to Europe is an important geographical advantage for companies serving European marine markets.
The country is located across the Mediterranean from major European economies with established boating and yacht industries.
This position can support commercial connections between Tunisian manufacturers and international customers.
However, Reuters did not provide the value of Beneteau Group’s investments in Tunisia or specify its local production volumes.
The report also did not identify new investment commitments by French manufacturers.
The confirmed information is that international yacht businesses operate in Tunisia alongside a growing number of locally owned companies.
Tunisia Luxury Yacht Industry Targets €1 Billion in Exports by 2030
The Tunisia Luxury Yacht Industry aims to double its exports by 2030.
With exports reaching approximately €500 million in 2025, achieving that ambition would imply annual export earnings of around €1 billion, assuming the same measurement basis.
The target was outlined by Montassar Dhiaf, who leads Tunisia’s Marine Industries Association.
The ambition demonstrates the sector’s plans to expand its international market presence over the coming years.
However, the €1 billion figure is an implied target based on doubling the reported €500 million export value, not a separate official forecast provided by Reuters.
The industry has not announced guaranteed export contracts sufficient to establish that the target will be achieved.
Its success will depend on international demand, manufacturing capacity, competitiveness and the ability of companies to secure orders.
Growth in exports could increase foreign currency earnings for Tunisia.
It could also support employment opportunities within boatbuilding and related industries.
Nevertheless, the Reuters report did not provide numerical projections for job creation or foreign exchange earnings under the 2030 ambition.
The target should therefore be understood as an industry objective.
Tunisia Yacht Manufacturing Sector Calls for Training Centres and Tax Incentives
Industry representatives are seeking additional government support to strengthen Tunisia Yacht Manufacturing.
Montassar Dhiaf called for the establishment of training centres and the introduction of tax incentives to improve the competitiveness of local manufacturers.
Training centres could support the development of specialised skills required in boatbuilding, including technical production and equipment installation.
Such skills are important in an industry where manufacturers must meet demanding design, construction and finishing requirements.
Tax incentives could also influence business costs and investment decisions, depending on their structure.
However, Reuters did not report that the Tunisian government had approved the proposed incentives or announced the establishment of new training centres.
The measures were presented as recommendations from the industry association.
The request indicates that businesses see workforce development and operating conditions as important to future growth.
The industry’s ability to expand production will depend partly on access to skilled workers and the resources required to increase manufacturing capacity.
The government response to these proposals was not provided in the Reuters report.
Tunisia’s Yacht Industry Creates Opportunities for Skilled Manufacturing Jobs
The expansion of marine manufacturing offers potential employment opportunities in specialised industrial activities.
Rassas Composites alone employs approximately 60 people, according to its owner.
Its operations involve the construction of vessels that require skilled craftsmanship and technical coordination.
As companies expand, they may require additional workers with experience in manufacturing, finishing, equipment installation and related services.
The industry association’s call for training centres indicates the importance of developing a workforce capable of supporting further production growth.
However, Reuters did not provide the total number of people employed across Tunisia’s 75 marine industry companies.
It also did not quantify the number of additional jobs expected if exports double by 2030.
The sector’s contribution to employment should therefore be described in terms of existing company-level evidence and potential opportunities, not unsupported national job creation estimates.
The growth of Tunisian-owned manufacturers may also create opportunities for local businesses supplying materials and specialised services.
The scale of these opportunities will depend on future investment and production activity.
What This Means For Africa
The growth of the Tunisia Luxury Yacht Industry demonstrates how African manufacturers can develop a presence in specialised international markets through technical skills, production capacity and export-oriented business models.
Tunisia’s marine sector has expanded from approximately 20 companies a decade ago to around 75, while exports of yachts and pleasure boats reached €500 million in 2025.
These figures provide evidence of growth in a manufacturing industry that serves customers outside the domestic market.
The experience also illustrates the importance of developing local capabilities beyond basic component production.
According to the Marine Industries Association, Tunisian companies can now manage yacht design, manufacturing, outfitting and after-sales services.
This progression is relevant to wider African industrial development because it demonstrates how technical expertise and participation in international supply chains can support more complex manufacturing activities.
The expansion of Tunisia Yacht Manufacturing has also been accompanied by a greater presence of Tunisian-owned companies.
Businesses such as Rassas Composites show how family-founded enterprises can develop into manufacturers serving international luxury markets.
The industry’s growth does not mean that all African countries can replicate Tunisia’s model under identical conditions.
Tunisia benefits from geographical proximity to Europe, existing marine manufacturing activity and technical cooperation with foreign companies.
However, the sector provides an example of how local firms can develop specialised capabilities and compete internationally.
Its ambition to double exports by 2030 could create additional opportunities for foreign currency earnings and employment if production and demand expand sufficiently.
The call for training centres also highlights the role of technical education in supporting industrial competitiveness.
As African economies seek to strengthen manufacturing and increase the value of their exports, Tunisia’s yacht industry offers a case study in moving from component supply towards finished, internationally marketed products.
The country’s progress demonstrates that African industrial growth can extend into specialised manufacturing markets, including products associated with high-end global consumers.
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Image Credit: Splendid Yachting AG
