Greek banks' exposure in the shipping sector over 8.0 bln euros

Addressing an event organized by Hellenic Bank Association and the financial executives of Greek Shipping, the central governor noted that the Greek economy shows a dynamism based largely on the confidence of the Greek and international banking system in the country, facilitating the financing of fleet expansion and renewal. Greek shipping maintains a preferential access in bank financing and did not need to seek alternative and more expensive forms of financing, while foreign banks which opted to leave Greece during the crisis maintained their shipping loan portfolios in the country. 

Greek banks' exposure in the shipping sector exceeds 8.0 billion euros, most of it in foreign currency (US dollars). The Greek merchant shipping fleet surpassed the 3,000 level for the first time ever at the end of 2018, with capacity exceeding the 200-million-ton level for the first time this year.