Greek exports are on pace to hit an all-time national record in 2026, according to data from the Panhellenic Exporters A...

Greek exports are on pace to hit an all-time national record in 2026, according to data from the Panhellenic Exporters Association, with the first half of the year already delivering strong numbers despite a turbulent global trade environment marked by tariff shifts, euro appreciation against the dollar, and supply chain disruptions. In June alone, exports to EU member states surged 29.8%, absorbing 60.1% of total export volume. Exports to third countries grew 21.4%, accounting for the remaining 39.9%. Strip out petroleum products and the EU's share climbs to 67.3%, reflecting how deeply the single market functions as a stability anchor for Greek trade. The US figures are more complicated. Exports to America rose 15.6% in the first half of 2026, reaching 1.34 billion euros. But imports from the US exploded 56.5% to 1.93 billion euros, driven largely by energy and capital goods, pushing the bilateral trade deficit from minus 71.2 million euros to minus 585 million euros, a swing of over 720%. Alkiviadis Kalaboukis, president of the Panhellenic Exporters Association, said the widening deficit reflects Greece's energy and technology dependence on American suppliers rather than any failure of Greek export capacity. He called stronger penetration of the US market a national export priority, not a temporary tactical choice, pointing to food and beverages, olive oil, pharmaceuticals, aluminum, and construction materials as sectors where Greece holds a proven competitive edge. National Bank of Greece analysis added that the growth paths of three leading food exports, Greek yogurt, kiwi, and strawberries, each demonstrate a different route to sustainable trade value. Yogurt has more than tripled export volumes over six years while holding a 30% price premium over European rivals. Kiwi has expanded its geographic reach and lifted Greece's share of European kiwi exports from 24% to 30% since 2019, though it still trades at a relative price discount. Strawberries are gaining ground in both Eastern and Western Europe while gradually narrowing the price gap with competitors. Kalaboukis noted that the strong first-half performance came in months that are historically n...