They exceeded 100 million euros the exports of Greek alcoholic beverages in 2023, as they increased by 9.4% and amounted to 106.09 million euros.

According to the provisional data of EUROSTAT, prepared by the Association of Greek Spirits and Alcoholic Beverage Producers (SEAOP), in 2023 the export activity of Greek alcoholic beverages is further strengthened and far exceeds the pre-pandemic levels in value. In particular, compared to 2022, there was an overall increase (within the EU 27 & in Third Countries) in euro value by 9.4% (+9.12 million euros in absolute terms). In contrast to the total value, exports in kg of Greek alcoholic beverages show a drop of -5.02% (-2 million kg in absolute terms). An increase is recorded in 2023 and the evolution of the average unit price, per exported kilogram of beverage where it shows an increase of 15.2%.

Compared to the last 5 years (2023 vs 2019) the sector of the Greek production of alcoholic beverages, records a continuous increase in its exports, in value by +39.3%, but also in quantity by +5.2%.

It is noted that the drop in total exports of Greek alcoholic beverages to Third Countries in 2023, largely responsible for the decline in exports to Iraq, where in 2023 the law prohibiting the importation and sale of alcoholic beverages was implemented. This negative change particularly affected Greek exports of alcoholic beverages, as Iraq is the second most important country of destination for Greek alcoholic beverages and these effects translate into -22% (from 7.1 million kg in 2022 to 5.6 million kg). kg) in quantity and -16 % (-2.7 million euros) in value compared to 2022.

The decrease in the amount of exports “contributes” to the increase in the average selling price (Euro/Kg) of Greek alcoholic beverages which records an upward trend as in 2023 it increased 15.2% (19.2% in Third Countries and 14.5% within EU 27), compared to 2022.

In terms of export destinations, according to the data, the EU-27 Member States are consistently the most important destinations for Greek spirits, with a percentage of 76% in value i.e. 80.7 million euros and 78% in quantity i.e. 28.4 million kilos.

According to the further analysis of the ELSTAT data, the exports within the EU-27 of the Greek distillery sector in 2023 compared to 2022, show a significant increase in value of ≈10 million euros (percentage of 13.7%), while in terms of quantity there is a small drop of -0.2 million kg (percentage 0.7%).

With regard to exports outside the EU-27, there is a decrease both in euro value and in kg quantity. Specifically, -2.3 in value (from 26 million euros in 2022 to 25.4 million euros in 2023) and -18% in quantity (from 9.5 million kilograms in 2022 to 7.8 million kilograms in 2023).

Germany consistently appears in first placeas the main country of export of Greek alcoholic beverages, as 40% in value (42.5 million euros) and 45.4% in quantity (16.5 million kg) of the Greek distillery is sent to Germany.

The second most important destination country for Greek alcoholic beverages is still (despite the drop) Iraq with an export value of 14.6 million euros and a quantity of 5.6 million kilograms.

In the list of the main export countries, Bulgaria follows with 10 million euros (which records an increase of +25.7% in value), the Netherlands with 5 million euros (with an increase of +98% in value), Austria with 3 .8 million euros (with an increase of +194% in value), Poland with 3.7 million euros (recording a fall of -4.1% in value) from the EU-27 and Albania with 2.9 million. euros, the USA with 2.2 million euros (-14% in value) and Israel with 0.96 million euros (-6.6% in value) from Third Countries.

Greek ouzo is the main protagonist, and is at the top in terms of exports of Greek alcoholic beverages, occupying the last year (2023) 58% of the value and 68% of the quantity of the total exports of Greek spirits. In 2023, an increase in the value of ouzo exports internationally is recorded, which in percentage terms is translated by ≈4% (+2.3 million euros), while in quantity it shows a drop of -7.3% (almost -2 million kilos).

The exports of tsipouro/tsikoudia although represent a very small share (≈2% in value & ≈1% in quantity) of the total exports, record a steady increase.