Greece experienced a notable expansion in its trade deficit during July 2026, climbing to EUR 3.1 billion. This figure represents the largest trade gap recorded since December 2025, surpassing the EUR 3.0 billion deficit from the same period in the previous year. The primary factor contributing to this widening deficit was a significant 10.7% year-on-year increase in imports, which totaled EUR 8.2 billion. This surge in imports was predominantly fueled by a substantial 24.7% rise in shipments originating from countries outside the European Union, while imports from within the EU saw a slight decline of 0.4%.
For freight forwarders and logistics operations managers, this trend indicates a potential shift in Greece's sourcing patterns, with a greater reliance on goods from third countries. This could lead to increased demand for specific trade lanes and potentially impact ocean freight rates and capacity on those routes. Forwarders should monitor import volumes and origin shifts to anticipate changes in shipping requirements and optimize routing strategies.