Greek exporters are particularly concerned about the situation in Eastern Europe, with fruit and vegetables being the first victims among Greek exports from the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Their exports to the region have halted since last Thursday. In 2021, exports to Ukraine alone added up to €17.6 million and over 32,000 tons, accounting for 2% of all Greek fruit and vegetable exports last year.
The crisis in the region has also led to a dramatic slump in indirect exports to Russia, such as those conducted through Latvia or Lithuania, with Belarus as an intermediary station. According to the INCOFRUIT Hellas association of exporters in the sector, due to the embargo Belarus has imposed on European Union products in response to prior EU sanctions, Greek strawberry exports to Latvia dropped in the period from January 1 to February 25 to just 54 tons, against 1,062 tons a year earlier. Tomato exports have also dropped by some 1,000 tons, from 5,894 last year to 4,880 in 2022.
In total, Greek exports to Ukraine amounted to €193.7 million in 2020, the last year for which there are complete statistics.
Source: ekathimerini.com
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