Crete: New record for exports of local products – Dominant products and top destinations

The year 2022 closed with a positive sign for Cretan exports, according to the provisional data of Hellenic Statistical Agency-ELSTAT edited by the Exporters Association of Crete. Cretan exports, not including petroleum products, reached the amount of 682.10 million euros and 418,820 tons, compared to 615.70 million euros and 415,536 tons in the corresponding period last year, showing an increase equal to 10.8% in value and 0.8% in quantity and breaking every previous record of the last 10 years at least.

Sectors

The Food and Beverage sector, which constitutes 58.8% of all Cretan exports with 400.9 million euros, shows an increase equal to 14.7%. The Chemicals & Plastics sector comes second, with a share of approximately 26.3% of all Crete’s exports and an increase of 11.6%. This is followed by the sectors of Textiles & Clothing (4.2% share and 10.5% increase), Agricultural Equipment (4.1% share and 12.6% decrease) and with smaller shares Machinery & Devices, Building Materials and other industrial products.

Food

In the agri-food sector, Olive Oil reached 274.4 million euros, occupying 40% of all Cretan exported products and 68.5% in the Food & Beverages category, with an increase of 21% compared to last year’s corresponding period. Horticulture reached 70.1 million euros with a decrease of 1.5%, Fruits reached 13.5 million euros and a decrease of 27.8% and with smaller percentages followed by Fish & Seafood, Dairy, the Water – Soft Drinks – Juices category, Wine, Honey and Meat & its Preparations.

Industry

Of the products outside the agro-food sector, the exports of plastic films and sheets, plastic packaging items, nets for agricultural use and dyes are important.

Markets

Regarding markets, the main buyers of Cretan products are Italy (26% share), Germany (17.6%), France (6.1%), the Netherlands (5.2%) and Spain ( 4.9%). The top ten buyers include Poland, the USA, Romania, Bulgaria and the United Kingdom.

For the Food & Beverage sector, the main buyers are Italy, with exports reaching 161.8 million euros, Germany with 82.3 million euros, Spain with 18.2 million euros, Poland with 15.4 million euros and in fifth place Cyprus with 12 million euros.

For the Chemicals & Plastics sector, the main buyers are Germany with 24.2 million euros, France with 22.2 million euros, the Netherlands with 13.3 million euros, Spain with 11.7 million euros. euros and finally Italy, with 10.5 million euros.

2022 was an excellent year for Crete’s exports, and decisive for the course of the island’s export performance. Although it initially seemed like it would be a difficult year, with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the jump in energy and fuel costs, the huge cost of transportation and raw materials, finally our exporters managed to cope and stimulate the local economy.