METSTRADE 2025 – Croatian nautical sector visibly present at the world’s largest trade fair

• 26.11.2025.
• News

What do Croatian yacht interior designers, electrical system manufacturers, and long-standing family businesses have in common? All of them exhibited this year at the world’s largest marine equipment fair, METSTRADE. The figures, impressions, and awards they are bringing home say one thing: the Croatian nautical industry clearly has something to say to the world

As the global nautical industry increasingly moves towards sustainability and technological innovation, Croatian companies continue to build their influence on the international stage.
The Croatian Boating Industry Association – CBIA played a key role again this year in organising the Croatian national pavilion, providing local companies with a direct channel to international buyers and partners.

Teo Petričević, member of the CBIA Management Board, director of Capax, and co-founder of Adria Docks, highlights that years of effort, networking, and promotion of Croatian manufacturers are finally bringing concrete, visible results.
This year, a total of 15 Croatian companies exhibited at METSTRADE, eight of them within the national pavilion, and the rest through thematic, specialised industry pavilions.

METSTRADE confirms its status as the leading global trade fair

METSTRADE needs no special introduction. With a record-breaking 1,700 exhibitors and visitors from as many as 135 countries, it confirms its status as the most important event in the nautical calendar.
“Years of continuous work, promotion, and support for Croatian companies are finally delivering concrete and visible results,” said Petričević.

Support for the Croatian exhibitors was also provided by Alemka Vrcan, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who visited the stands of domestic companies and commented:
“The Croatian pavilion at METSTRADE is recording continuous growth, which confirms that the Croatian nautical industry can certainly find its place on the global market. As a small country with a rich maritime history that lives with and by the sea, Croatia has significant potential in this strategic sector.”

Great interest was also generated by The Superyacht Forum, held alongside the trade fair, bringing together around 900 participants. It was the largest edition of the forum so far, focused on superyacht maintenance and service, a sector that holds great potential for Croatian companies offering specialised services and equipment.

Refit market – a new opportunity for Croatian companies

The refit market (maintenance and refurbishment of large yachts), with an estimated value of around 5.6 billion euros, currently includes nearly 6,000 active superyachts. This year, Croatia appeared for the first time among the top 10 refit destinations, ranking ninth, just behind the Netherlands and Australia. Its share is currently modest, but the trend is growing.

The importance of being present at METSTRADE was confirmed by Croatian exhibitors.
Tea Tvrdeić from Zagreb-based ATT Nautika said that since their first appearance at this fair, their reach in the European market has significantly increased, with results seen through concrete collaborations.
“The greatest value is connecting with international companies and shipyards, and this year’s fair, with higher attendance and better quality of exhibitors, further opens up business opportunities for the future,” said Tvrdeić.

Exhibitors agree – trade fairs still make sense

For the first time, the Zadar-based company Nova Design & Manufacture, specialised in yacht design and the furnishing of interior and exterior spaces, participated in the Croatian pavilion.
“We are more than satisfied with the fair, from the pavilion’s high-traffic location to the number of leads and inquiries received. We also renewed some old contacts, and project realisations will follow in the coming period,” said director Filip Pedišić.

Ivan Krčelić from the Rijeka-based company Interval d.o.o., which designs and manufactures electrical systems for vessels, was also pleased:
“We received interesting inquiries from shipyard representatives for yacht projects. We took the opportunity to network with other exhibitors and present our services.”

Croatian Yachting Night gathered leading figures of the nautical sector
The social highlight of the fair was the fourth edition of Croatian Yachting Night, traditionally organised by CBIA at the Tobacco Theatre. This year, it brought together over 150 guests, including representatives of the METSTRADE organisation, ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations), and numerous related associations from abroad.

During the evening, three special awards were presented by CBIA president Roman Pičuljan:

• Croatian Yachting Legacy Award was given to Hrvoje Matutinović (Unimar) for his long-standing contribution to the industry
• Family Business Award went to ATT Nautika for successful knowledge transfer across generations
• Business Development Award was awarded to the Split-based company S.A.K.Z. d.o.o. for business growth

This celebratory evening was realised with the support of the Croatian National Tourist Board and domestic exhibiting companies, once again confirming how much the Croatian nautical industry has to offer – and how much it can gain when it is connected, visible, and takes a strategic approach in the right places.

Foto: Rebekka Mell

 

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