Mixed impact on local firms from coronavirus outbreak

Greek business is not hiding its concern about the spread of the new coronavirus, primarily in China and Italy, even though Greek enterprises have yet to feel any major negative impact from the virus. Certain local companies, mainly food exporters, have even benefited from the current situation, as many Italian consumers have been panic buying over the last few days. However, Greek companies acknowledge that any unrest in the market is never positive at the end of the day.

According to importers and foreign company representatives who spoke to Kathimerini, shortages in Greece have been limited to date and only concern products that are imported from China, mainly spare parts for machinery. There has been no effects on imports from Italy yet, but they say this is only because it is still too early for that.

Available data show that Italy is Greece's second largest...