By 707.8 million euros increased the current balance deficit trading In the first quarter of 2025, compared to the corresponding period of 2024, reaching 4.5 billion euros, according to Bank of Greece data (BCT).
According to the BoG report, the deterioration of the current transaction deficit is mainly due to the balances of services, secondary income and goods, and is partially offset by the improvement in the primary income balance.
In particular For March 2025, The current account balance deficit increased EUR 496.7 million on an annual basis and stood at € 3.0 billion.
Balance of goods showed deteriorationas exports declined while imports increased. At current prices, exports declined by 8.9% (-3.8% at constant prices), while imports increased by 2.6% (3.3% at constant prices). However, without fuel, exports of goods increased by 5.5% (7.5% at constant prices) and the corresponding imports by 3.4% (2.3% at constant prices).
Surplus in the service balance was reducedmainly due to a reduction in transport and travel balance. Although non -residents of travelers increased by 5.4% and relative revenue by 5.1%, the overall picture was negative. Only the balance of other services increased.
Primary income balance showed significant improvementlimiting almost half of its deficit compared to March 2024, mainly due to increased net income from other income and reduction of payments for interest, dividends and profits. On the contrary, the secondary income balance has deteriorated due to increased net payments by other sectors of the economy.
For the whole of 1st quarter 2025, The deficit in the balance of goods increasedas the reduction in exports (-2.2% at current prices, +0.8% in constant) exceeded the slight decline in imports (-0.2% and fixed prices). Exports without fuel were raised by 4.2%, while the corresponding imports by 3.0% (at constant prices: 5.6% and 2.0% respectively).
Surplus in the service balance was limitedwith a decrease in all individual balances, especially in transport and other services. Tourist arrivals increased by 5.4% and relative revenue by 4.4%.
Significant change was also recorded in primary income balancewhich went into a surplus of a deficit last year, while the secondary income balance showed a reduction in its surplus, mainly due to increased payments by the general government and reduced receipts from other sectors.
Capital balance
In March 2025, the capital balance showed a surplus of € 122.1 million against a deficit in March 2024, due to net public sector receipts. In the first quarter, the surplus in the capital balance amounted to EUR 482.8 million, mainly from the strengthening of general government receipts and reducing payments from other sectors.
Total accounting of current transaction and capital
In March, the total deficit (corresponding to the country’s external financial needs) increased to € 2.9 billion. However, throughout the quarter it was reduced to € 4.0 billion compared to the corresponding 2024 period.
Financial Trade Balance
In the immediate investment of March 2025, net inputs of EUR 427.1 million were recorded and outflows of EUR 151.4 million. In portfolio investments, residents’ placements in foreign securities decreased by € 1.0 billion, while non -resident investments in Greek securities increased by € 1.4 billion.
Other investments, deposits and repos abroad decreased by € 1.3 billion, while non -residents in Greece decreased by € 2.3 billion, partially offset by statistical adjustment (+701 million euros).
For the first quarter of 2025, immediate investments showed inflows and outflows of € 1.2 billion respectively. In portfolio investments, outflows were reduced due to a reduction of € 1.4 billion to bonds, and there was a rise of 678.5m euros in shares. Inputs increased by € 5.0 billion due to non -residents in Greek bonds.
In other investments, the claims were reinforced by statistical adjustment (+1.8 billion euros) and increased loan lending to non -residents. Liability decreased by € 2.0 billion in loans and € 1.8 billion in deposits, partially offset by statistical adjustment.
At the end of March 2025, the country’s foreign exchange recorded amounted to € 15.7 billion, up € 13.0 billion in March 2024.