Greek industry emerges as a stable pillar of economic growth

According to a study by the National Bank of Greece, the Greek industrial sector has emerged as a stable pillar of growth despite geopolitical uncertainty and inflationary pressures. The manufacturing sector is currently the only broad industry in Greece producing and investing at levels 10-15% higher than pre-crisis (2008) benchmarks.

Business sector sales in the first half of 2026 saw a 1% increase in real terms, though this represents a slowdown from the 2.8% growth seen in the previous period. Despite this deceleration, the Greek business sector maintains a 1.1% share of European added value. Early indicators for the third quarter suggest an acceleration in growth rates of approximately 2-3%.

Specific sectors showing strong performance include construction, with a 10% increase, and ICT, which grew by 8%. The report highlights that technological acceleration, particularly artificial intelligence, will be a decisive factor in whether Greece can close the productivity gap with the rest of Europe.