Cyprus Trade Deficit Narrows To €476.6 Million In January 2026 As Exports Rise

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 13, 2026

Economic Overview

Cyprus recorded a notable reduction in its trade deficit in January 2026. According to data from the Cyprus Statistical Service, the deficit narrowed to €476.6 million, compared with €707.5 million in January 2025. The improvement reflects a combination of lower imports and stronger export performance during the period.

Decline In Imports

The latest data from the Cyprus Statistical Service indicates that total imports of goods fell to €994.1 million from €1.15 billion, reflecting a 13.6% decrease over the same period last year. Imports from other European Union member states dropped from €583.0 million to €554.3 million, while those from third countries declined from €568.2 million to €439.8 million. Notably, the transfer of economic ownership of vessels contributed a comparable value both years, registering €79.0 million in January 2026 against €79.9 million in January 2025.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Resilient Export Performance

On the export front, Cyprus recorded robust gains, with total exports of goods rising to €517.5 million compared to €443.7 million in January 2025, marking a 16.6% year-on-year increase. Exports to other EU states grew from €84.4 million to €97.2 million, and those to third countries surged from €359.3 million to €420.3 million. This improvement was further bolstered by a substantial upturn in the transfer of economic ownership of vessels, which soared to €193.5 million in January 2026 from just €11.3 million in the prior year.

Additional Insights From December 2025

Final data for December 2025 showed similar developments in trade activity. Total imports declined by 9.9%, falling to €1.25 billion from €1.39 billion. Domestic exports, including stores and provisions for ships and aircraft, increased by approximately 9.8% to €274.2 million. Exports of foreign products recorded particularly strong growth, rising 77.7% to €224.2 million, compared with €126.2 million in December 2024.

Yearly Trade Highlights

For the full year 2025, mineral fuels and oils remained the largest export category among domestically produced goods, with exports reaching €2.33 billion. Other major contributors to export activity included halloumi cheese and pharmaceutical products, which recorded export values of €356.9 million and €356.2 million, respectively. The latest figures highlight a shift in Cyprus’ trade balance driven by stronger exports and lower imports during the early months of 2026.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.

Breaking news