By the end of 2022, Greece reported a record surge in imports from Russia, reaching 9.33 billion euros in value. This figure appeared in the analysis from Elstat, the Greek statistical authority, and reflected the close trade ties that persisted despite broader geopolitical tensions.
The January to December 2022 period saw Greece import goods from Russia totaling 9,330.2 million euros, marking a growth of 116.9 percent compared with the previous year when imports stood at 4,302.4 million euros. The surge underscored a marked shift in the bilateral trade pattern during a year dominated by sanctions and political shifts—an increase that drew attention from economists and policymakers monitoring European energy and commodity dependencies.
Conversely, Greek exports to Russia in 2022 contracted. The value of goods shipped to the Russian market fell by 24.3 percent year over year, dropping to 156.4 million euros from 206.6 million euros in 2021. This widening imbalance helped push Greece’s overall trade balance with Russia into a substantial deficit, estimated at 9.173 billion euros in favor of Russia according to the same statistical report.
Separately, the Russian tour industry trio reported significant shifts in tourist flows. The Russian Association of Tour Operators, through its press service on January 30, highlighted a dramatic drop in Russian travelers to several Mediterranean destinations. Tourist arrivals to Greece declined by 83 percent in 2022, while visits to Cyprus fell by 91.3 percent. Across the Eastern Mediterranean, European destinations experienced a steep downturn as sanctions and broader European responses to Moscow impacted travel and tourism demand, with losses reaching about nine in ten travelers for some regions in that year. These trends illustrate how sanctions and policy changes reverberate through regional tourism and the broader economy. [ATOR] [Elstat]