ucts (-9.1%), industrial products (-3.9%), machin-
ery (-0.8%) and confidential items (-21.6%).
Imports
Contrary to the mixed picture presented by
exports, imports continued to be positively affect-
ed by the combination of the holiday period and
the sustained rise in oil prices. More specifically,
Greece’s total imports rose by 3.7% in December
2016, to 3.86 billion euros (from 3.72 billion euros
in December 2015).
Excluding petroleum products, imports also grew,
albeit much slower (by +1.2%, or 32.4 million
euros).
In the end, imports for the entire 2016 were mar-
ginally increased by 0.8% in 2016 to 43.96 billion
euros (from 43.62 billion euros in 2015).
Excluding petroleum products, imports rose by
5.9% or 1.92 billion euros; however, this increase
is attributed to the imports of ships and heavy
machinery.
As a result of these changes, the total trade deficit
for the year 2016 rose by 4.5%, to 18.5 billion
euros, while, excluding petroleum products, the
trade deficit increased by 11.8% or 1.69 billion
euros.
Fruit and vegetables
In 2016, fruit and vegetables (fresh and
processed) generated foreign exchange rev-
enues three times higher than oils and fats, dairy
products, and seafood, and much higher than
other agricultural products, according to analysis
by INCOFRUIT HELLAS, the Greek association
of fruit-exporting enterprises.
Although Greek fruit and vegetables do not enjoy
the same attention from the state as other sectors,
INCOFRUIT estimates that the sector generates
Trade with Greece
78
