Exports up 14.0% y/y in December 2018
In December 2018, exports increased 14.0% y/y to US$ 328.6mn, while imports fell 2.7% y/y to US$ 816.6mn and the trade deficit narrowed 11.4% y/y to US$ 448.1mn according to GeoStat’s preliminary figures. In 2018, trade deficit was up 10.7% to US$ 5.8bn as exports increased 22.9% y/y to US$ 3.4bn and imports were up 14.9% y/y to US$ 9.1bn. Detailed foreign trade statistics will be available on January 21, 2019.
Money transfers up 9.1% y/y in December 2018
In December 2018, money transfers increased 9.1% y/y to US$ 150.9mn after growing 9.0% y/y in previous month, according to NBG. Money transfers were up from the following major remitting countries: Italy (+29.9% y/y, 13.0% of total), Greece (+13.0%y/y, 11.3% of total), Israel (+4.6% y/y, 8.6% of total) and US (+15.0% y/y, 10.0% of total). Meanwhile, remittances were down from Turkey (-22.0% y/y, 5.2% of total) and Russia (-2.7% y/y, 29.0% of total). In 2018 money transfers were up 14.3% y/y to US$ 1.6bn.
NBG purchased US$ 15.0mn
On 16 and 18 January 2019, the NBG intervened on the FX market and purchased US$ 15.0mn and US$ 15.0mn, respectively. The NBG purchased US$ 55mn YTD on its 4 FX auctions.
