Large enterprises generated 25.7% of Cyprus’ services exports to countries outside the European Union in 2024, while smaller businesses also contributed to the country’s international trade in services, according to Eurostat.

The figure places Cyprus close to several other European economies. Large businesses accounted for 27.3% of services exports in Italy, 30.8% in Spain and 25% in Luxembourg, highlighting differences in how member states structure their services-export sectors.

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What The Figures Reveal About Cyprus

The Eurostat data cover services supplied to customers outside the EU. They do not include services provided by Cypriot businesses to clients in other member states, meaning the figures represent only part of the country’s cross-border services activity.

This distinction is particularly relevant for Cyprus, where businesses operate across the European single market. The statistics offer insight into the role of different-sized enterprises in exports beyond the bloc, rather than a complete picture of the country’s international services trade.

Large Businesses Generate The Biggest Share Of EU Services Exports

Across the EU, services exports to non-EU destinations reached €1.58 trillion in 2024, an increase of 9.7% compared with the previous year.

Large enterprises, defined as businesses employing at least 250 people, accounted for 41.7% of the total, making them the largest contributor by company size. Small enterprises, with up to 49 employees, represented 11.8%, while medium-sized businesses employing between 50 and 249 people contributed 9%.

The remaining 37.4% came from enterprises whose size was not identified.

Denmark, Finland And Germany Lead In Large-Enterprise Exports

The contribution of large businesses varies considerably across the EU. In nine member states, they accounted for more than half of services exports to destinations outside the bloc.

Denmark recorded the highest share, at 71.7%, followed by Finland at 71.2% and Germany at 69.1%. Slovakia also ranked among the leading countries, with large enterprises responsible for 65% of services exports.

Smaller businesses played a much greater role in some other economies. Malta recorded the highest share of services exports generated by smaller enterprises, at 78.6%, followed by Estonia at 61.4% and Luxembourg at 56.8%.

Information And Communication Leads EU Services Exports

Eurostat’s breakdown by the main economic activity of exporting businesses shows that information and communication was the largest sector, generating €362 billion in services exports to non-EU countries in 2024. This represented 22.9% of the EU total.

Manufacturing ranked second, with exports of €249.3 billion, or 15.8%, followed by transportation and storage, which accounted for €236.2 billion, representing 15%.

The figures are part of Eurostat’s Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC) statistics, which examine international services trade according to the size and main economic activity of the enterprises involved.