Greek Exports to Britain Surge as Yoghurt Leads the Way

by · Greek City Times

Greek yoghurt has emerged as Greece’s leading export product to the United Kingdom, recording a 67.1% increase in export value during the first eight months of 2026, while overall Greek exports to the British market rose by 29%.

The figures, published by the UK Revenue and Customs Authority (HMRC), appear in the latest Economic and Business Developments Bulletin prepared by the Economic and Commercial Affairs Office of the Greek Embassy in London.

Greek yoghurt exports reached £152.57 million between January and August 2026, placing the product at the top of Greece’s export rankings to the UK. The performance highlights the strong presence of Greek dairy products in the British market and growing consumer demand.

Iron and steel tubes of circular cross-section ranked second, with exports worth £107.94 million, representing an impressive increase of 7,804.1%.

Read more: Greek Yoghurt Tops Greece’s Exports to the UK as Sales Jump 67%

Petroleum oils and preparations followed in third place, generating £94.61 million, up 268.1%. Insulated wires, coaxial cables and other insulated electric conductors ranked fourth, with exports of £91.88 million, an increase of 45.8%.

Medicines in measured doses or retail packaging occupied fifth place, with exports worth £82.89 million, although their value declined by 15.6%.

Greek cheeses also maintained a strong presence, ranking sixth with exports of £77.43 million, up 16.7%.

The remaining products in the top ten included copper tubes, worth £61.07 million; aluminium plates, sheets and strips, worth £44.13 million; gas, liquid and electricity meters, worth £39.44 million; and vegetables preserved in vinegar or acetic acid, worth £33.16 million.

Greek exports to UK increase by 29%

The positive performance extends beyond dairy products.

HMRC figures show that Greek merchandise exports to the UK reached £1.32 billion between January and August 2026, compared with £1.02 billion during the same period in 2025, representing an increase of 29%.

By contrast, British exports to Greece rose by just 1.1%, reaching £650.94 million, compared with £644.12 million a year earlier.

Consequently, total bilateral trade reached £1.97 billion, an increase of 18.2%. Greece’s trade surplus with the UK expanded by 76.9% to £665.12 million, compared with £376.03 million during the corresponding period in 2025.

Greece also recorded the largest percentage increase in the value of UK imports among European Union member states during the eight-month period.

According to the HMRC data analysed by the Greek Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Affairs Office in London, Greek exports increased by 29.41%, placing Greece 44th among the UK’s supplier countries, up from 48th position in the corresponding period of 2025.

Ireland followed with an increase of 23.44%.

Overall, the value of UK imports from EU countries increased by 6.7%. However, the EU’s share of total British imports declined to 43.36%, from 46.45% a year earlier.

Meanwhile, imports from countries outside the EU increased by 20.89%, raising their share of the British market to 56.64%.

Greek statistics confirm export growth

Provisional figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), analysed by the Greek Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Affairs Office in London, also confirm the strong performance of Greek exports.

According to these figures, Greek exports to the UK reached €1.686 billion during the first eight months of 2026, compared with €1.296 billion during the same period in 2025, representing an increase of 30.1%.

Greek imports from the UK also increased, reaching €673.93 million, up 17.7% from €572.75 million a year earlier.

Greece recorded a bilateral trade surplus of approximately €1.01 billion, an increase of 39.9% compared with €723.19 million during the corresponding period of 2025.

Total bilateral trade increased by 26.3%, reaching €2.359 billion, compared with €1.869 billion in the first eight months of 2025.

The figures highlight the growing competitiveness of Greek products in the British market, with yoghurt leading the export rankings and Greek cheese maintaining a strong position.

The substantial increase in overall exports and the widening trade surplus also underline the potential for further strengthening commercial relations between Greece and the United Kingdom.

(Source: AMNA)

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