Forage products market in Greece

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the Greek forage products market saw initial expansion followed by a decline. The introduction of Law 4492/2017 and the alignment with EU Regulation 882/2004 in 2018 strengthened official controls and billing procedures for feed, enhancing market transparency. In 2019, financial incentives for facility upgrades under Law 5087/2024 and the adoption of revised compound feed labeling standards (FEFAC 1.1) supported a rise in domestic production to 22 900 t, lifting the total market volume to 24 045 t. The launch of the Common Agricultural Policy 2020‑2027, with specific expenditures to promote protein‑rich forage crops, coincided with a market contraction to 21 786 t in 2020.

A pronounced downturn occurred in 2021, with market volume falling to 17 570 t. This was directly influenced by restrictive animal‑movement protocols adopted to combat a sheep and goat pox outbreak, which hampered the distribution of forage products. The market rebounded sharply in 2022, surging to 27 275 t. This growth was propelled by the removal of tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural goods, including grains used as feed, which drastically reduced import costs and led to a spike in imports to 12 549 t.

In 2023, domestic production recovered to 17 450 t, supported by new national programs such as KYA 5788/2024 that provided additional funding for feed system modernization. However, a significant increase in exports and a decrease in imports resulted in a lower total market volume of 24 415 t.

Production forage products in Greece

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Greece ranked as the world's ninth-largest producer of forage products.

Top producers of forage products, 2017-2020

World map of production of forage products, 2017-2020

The market showed an unstable trend over this period. Production reached its lowest point in 2018 at 18 650 tonnes, while the highest volume was recorded in 2017, with a 4.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Greece produced 21 750 tonnes of forage products, representing a 5.0% year-on-year decline. The largest decrease occurred in 2018 at 75.3%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 22.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Greece in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Production hit its lowest value in 2018 at 6 125 thousand US dollars, with the peak in 2017, showing a 4.3-fold gap. In 2020, the output of forage products in Greece was valued at 6 302 thousand US dollars, down 25.1% from the previous year. The largest decline was in 2018 at 76.8%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 37.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Greece in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports forage products from Greece

Exports in kind, t

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations during this period. Export levels reached their lowest point in 2018 at 192 tonnes and peaked in 2020, with a 6.6-fold difference. In 2020, Greece exported 1 274 tonnes of forage products, a 101.7% increase compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 77.9%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 228.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Greece in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Greece's forage product exports in kind were the United Arab Emirates (28.8% of exports), Germany (20.1%), and Albania (17.9%), together accounting for 66.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Greece in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations over this period. Exports reached their lowest value in 2018 at 63 thousand US dollars and their highest in 2020, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 5.8 times. In 2020, Greece exported 369 thousand US dollars worth of forage products, marking a 59.0% increase relative to the prior year. The largest decline was in 2018 at 79.3%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 267.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Greece in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the principal buyers of forage products from Greece in value terms were Germany (37.3% of exports), Cyprus (21.4%), and Italy (18.3%), jointly representing 77.0% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Greece in value, 2017-2020

Imports forage products to Greece

Imports in kind, t

Greece's import volume of forage products declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 1 310 tonnes, a 26.3% decrease from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 75.3%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 37.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Greece in kind, 2017-2020, t

Throughout 2017–2020, the three largest markets for imports in kind were Spain, Bulgaria, and Romania, which together accounted for 87.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Greece in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year decline, Greece's import value of forage products increased. In 2020, Greece imported 573 thousand US dollars worth of forage products, a modest 5.4% rise compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 544 thousand US dollars. Over the period 2017–2020, imports decreased by 61%, with a compound annual growth rate of -26.9%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 53.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Greece in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the leading sources for Greece's forage product imports in value terms were Spain (24.7% of imports), Bulgaria (22.0%), and France (13.9%), together making up 60.6% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Greece in value, 2017-2020