Greek open-air markets face crisis due to rising costs

Savas Kotanidis, General Secretary of the Federation of Open-Air Markets, has warned that rising operational costs are forcing professionals to abandon the sector. He noted that many traders are unable to cover their expenses, particularly in Western Macedonia, where long distances between cities exacerbate the issue.

Key economic pressures include increased fuel and energy costs, higher taxation, rising prices for raw materials, and increased transportation expenses. Kotanidis highlighted that travel costs for procurement have risen significantly, for example, from 60-70 euros to 90-100 euros for trips to Thessaloniki.

The shrinking of these markets could lead to direct consequences for consumers, as the absence of open-air markets may result in sharp increases in product prices.