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Cyprus Industrial Sales Rise 3.7% To €4.77 Billion As Halloumi, Bakery And Pharma Lead Growth

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 24, 2026

Industrial Sales Extend Their Upward Trend

Sales of locally produced industrial goods in Cyprus increased by 3.7 per cent to €4.77 billion in the latest year, according to figures released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). The result marks an additional €170.2 million in sales compared with €4.60 billion a year earlier, though the pace of growth slowed from the 7.3 per cent expansion recorded in 2023.

The latest data underline a broader pattern in Cyprus’ manufacturing base: a handful of high-value categories continue to anchor industrial performance, even as some sectors soften.

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Halloumi Remains A Core Export And Sales Driver

Halloumi once again emerged as one of the strongest contributors. Local industrial units sold 46,100 tonnes of the cheese worth €364.1 million, compared with 41,900 tonnes valued at €338.1 million in the previous year.

That represents growth of roughly 10 per cent in volume and 7.7 per cent in value, adding about €26 million to annual sales. The figures reinforce halloumi’s role not only in domestic production, but also in Cyprus’ international trade profile. Earlier reporting showed exports reaching 42,427 tonnes worth €324 million, up from 39,078 tonnes valued at €315 million in 2023.

Bakery, Pastry And Pharmaceuticals Lead By Value

Fresh bakery and pastry products recorded the highest sales value among the main categories at €373.8 million, up from €351.4 million a year earlier, reflecting growth of around 6.4 per cent.

Pharmaceutical products and preparations followed closely at €363.3 million, rising by about 3.4 per cent from €351.4 million in 2023. Pharmaceuticals also remain a key export category for Cyprus. Earlier trade data reported exports worth €348 million, equal to 14.4 per cent of the country’s manufactured exports.

Together, bakery and pastry products, halloumi and pharmaceuticals generated more than €1.1 billion in sales, highlighting the concentration of industrial strength in a small number of sectors.

Beverages And Packaged Foods Post Broad Gains

Several food and drink categories also recorded solid gains. Fresh fruit juice sales rose to 75,000 tonnes worth €54 million, from 71,100 tonnes and €49 million a year earlier. That translates into growth of around 5.5 per cent in volume and 10.2 per cent in value.

Beer sales climbed to 43.1 million litres worth €57 million, compared with 42.3 million litres valued at €53.8 million. Soft drink sales increased to 14.7 million litres worth €23.5 million, up from 13.5 million litres and €20.5 million the previous year.

Bottled mineral water was among the stronger performers. Sales reached 216.9 million litres worth €46.7 million, compared with 190.7 million litres valued at €39.9 million. That represents an increase of almost 14 per cent in volume and 17 per cent in value.

Prepared meat products also edged higher, reaching €51.4 million from €50.4 million a year earlier.

Not Every Category Followed The Same Trajectory

Despite the broad improvement, several segments weakened. Sales of pasteurised milk and fresh cream declined to 57.8 million litres worth €82.7 million, down from 60.7 million litres and €85.9 million in the previous year.

Wine posted a steeper drop, with sales falling to 10.4 million litres worth €35.7 million, compared with 11.9 million litres valued at €39.5 million. That amounts to a decline of about 12.6 per cent in volume and 9.6 per cent in value.

Chemical products also slipped, with sales down to €80.6 million from €84 million, a decrease of around 4 per cent.

Construction Materials Show Mixed Results

Construction-related products moved in opposite directions. Sales of cement and clinker fell by almost €20 million to €138.3 million, from €158.2 million a year earlier, reflecting a decline of around 12.6 per cent.

By contrast, ready-mixed concrete sales increased to €257.6 million from €247.7 million, a gain of about 4 per cent.

A Narrow Set Of Sectors Continues To Carry The Market

The Cystat data show a manufacturing sector that remains resilient, but increasingly dependent on a limited number of high-performing categories. Halloumi, bakery products and pharmaceuticals continue to dominate the sales picture, while beverages, dairy and construction inputs are moving in more uneven fashion.

Cystat said the figures cover commodities produced by industrial units in Cyprus, with sales reported in both quantity, where available, and value terms.

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EU Agrees On Major Overhaul Of Financial Market Supervision

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 9, 2026

European Union finance ministers have reached agreement on a sweeping package designed to strengthen oversight of the bloc’s financial markets, in a move aimed at reducing fragmentation and improving the flow of capital across borders.

A Push To Deepen Capital Markets

The Market Integration and Supervision Package, or MISP, would grant the European Securities and Markets Authority direct supervision over major market operators that are currently regulated by national authorities. The reforms are intended to make Europe’s capital markets more integrated, more efficient and better able to channel savings into productive investment.

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According to the Irish presidency, the package is meant to help savings and investments move more freely across the European Union, improving access to finance for companies while giving households broader opportunities to earn returns on their savings.

What The Reform Would Change

Under the new framework, ESMA would take direct oversight of key trading venues, clearing houses, securities settlement bodies and crypto-asset service providers. The package would also establish a permanent, independent executive board within the regulator, strengthening its institutional capacity.

Market operators would be able to opt into a new EU-wide operating framework. In parallel, the reforms would seek to make national supervision more consistent and update rules governing trading, transaction completion, investment management and the use of blockchain technology.

Why The Agreement Matters

Supporters of deeper capital markets argue that Europe has long paid a price for regulatory inconsistency. While many rules are harmonised across the bloc, differences in enforcement and supervision have contributed to a patchwork system that can make cross-border investment slower and more costly.

A more integrated framework, proponents say, could lower costs for companies seeking funding and broaden the menu of investment options available to savers and institutional investors alike.

Outstanding Questions Remain

Despite the broad agreement, some important details remain unresolved. Trading venues operated by Deutsche Börse, the company behind the Frankfurt stock exchange, may remain outside ESMA’s direct supervision.

Euronews previously reported that Germany had secured an exemption for Deutsche Börse’s domestically focused trading venues, leaving part of the system under regional supervision. The latest announcement did not clarify whether that arrangement will stand.

A Step Forward For The Savings And Investments Union

Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen welcomed the deal, calling it a major advance for the Capital Markets Union and saying Europe had made more progress in 10 months than in the previous 10 years.

The agreement is an important milestone in the Savings and Investments Union, the EU’s broader effort to channel more of Europeans’ savings into investments that can support growth, innovation and competitiveness across the bloc.