The continuous upward trend of Greek exports, which recorded an increase for 26 consecutive months from February 2021 to March 2023 (including petroleum products), was interrupted in April. In April 2023, exports decreased by 4.3% compared to the corresponding month of 2022.
According to the provisional data announced today by the Hellenic Statistical Authority, which were processed by the Institute of Export Research and Studies (IEES) of the Association of Exporters-SEBE, the value of Greek exports amounted to 3.954 billion euros in April 2023, compared to 4.133 billion euros in the corresponding month of 2022 (-4.3%).
Imports also decreased by 819.0 million to 6.107 billion, resulting in an improvement in the trade deficit.
Excluding petroleum products, the picture is not significantly different, with exports recording a decrease of 2.8% to 2.659 billion and imports decreasing by 4.1% to 4.58 billion euros. The trade deficit to improve by 5.8%.
The downward trend in exports in April was not enough to stop their overall positive trend in the whole of 2023. According to the data, in the first quarter of 2023, exports were up by 12.0%, with their value reaching 17.67 billion euros.
In contrast, imports into Greece were down by 1.9% and amounted to 26.96 billion euros, with the trade deficit improving by 20.7%. Excluding petroleum products, exports amounted to €12.02 billion (up 8.9%) and imports to €19.42 billion (up 0.5%), while the trade deficit decreased by 10.7%.
The course of exports of industrial products (141.2 million euros, -5.3%), raw materials (39.7 million, -6.0%) and unclassified products (38.9 million, -17.1%).
On the contrary, the rest of the sectors registered an increase in exports. Exports of food (262.2 million, +11.9%), chemicals (176.2 million, +8.8%), machinery and vehicles (156.6 million, +10.2%) recorded an upward trend ), miscellaneous industrial (157.4 million, +15.5%), fats and oils (449.1 million, +158.3%) and beverages and tobacco (85.5 million, +27.3% ).
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