Piraeus and Thessaloniki ports impacted by Middle East crisis

Geopolitical instability in the Middle East has significantly impacted Greece's major ports, Piraeus and Thessaloniki, by disrupting international maritime trade routes. As the first major European port following the Suez Canal, Piraeus is particularly vulnerable to these disruptions.

The Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) reported an 8.8% decline in total revenues for the first half of the year, falling to €111.9 million from €122.8 million. The container sector saw the most significant impact, with revenues dropping by 30.5% (€9.9 million). Additionally, cruise revenues decreased by 10.2%.

At Pier I, managed directly by OLP, container volumes (TEUs) fell by 38.7% compared to the first half of 2025. Domestic cargo decreased by 33.1%, while transshipment volumes dropped by 41.8%. OLP attributes these changes to reduced commercial activity and ongoing investment projects that have temporarily limited storage capacity. The organization noted that future growth depends on the full restoration of traffic through the Suez Canal. Net profits for OLP also declined by 24.4%, falling to €35.4 million from €46.7 million.