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Divergent Trends Define Cyprus Service And Transport Sectors In Q2 2025

Overview Of Mixed Sector Performance

The Cyprus turnover value index for services and transport in the second quarter of 2025 revealed a blend of robust growth and modest declines compared to the same period in 2024. According to data from the state statistical service (Cystat), key sectors exhibited varied performance profiles, reflecting both resilience and emerging challenges across the economy.

Substantial Gains In Accommodation And Food Services

Accommodation and food service activities led the upswing with an 11.7% increase, underpinned by a strong upswing in accommodation services at 13.9% and a 9.3% boost in food and beverage operations. This trend underscores the sector’s capacity to attract both local and international clientele, bolstering Cyprus’s tourism appeal.

Steady Momentum In Administrative And Support Services

Administrative and support service activities improved by 7.2% overall. Notably, the rental and leasing segment rose by 7.8%, while travel agency and tour operator services increased by 4.9%. Complementing these figures, security and investigation operations surged by 11.4%, and office administrative support grew by 9.6%, indicative of growing business operational needs and corporate confidence.

Emerging Trends In Digital And Information Services

The information and communication sector advanced by 4.4%, with publishing and programming and broadcasting growing by 5.2% and 3% respectively. Telecommunications and related IT services also reflected moderate gains, with computer programming and allied activities seeing a 3.4% increase, while information service activities surged by 17.3%, signaling robust digital transformation across the economy.

Professional And Technical Service Sectors

Professional, scientific and technical activities recorded a 3.6% rise. Within this domain, legal and accounting, management consulting, and advertising services experienced modest yet significant growth, while sectors such as architectural and engineering, and motion picture and sound recording saw slight declines of 3.1% and 3.3% respectively.

Transport And Storage: Mixed Performance

The transport and storage sector delivered a 2.1% gain overall. Land transport rose by 5.7%, with water transport increasing by 4% and air transport modestly rising by 0.7%. Support functions including warehousing and postal courier services also reflected positive momentum, though real estate activities experienced a contraction of 1.8% in turnover compared to the previous year.

H1 2025 Sectoral Outlook

Analyzing the first half of 2025, trends maintained a similar pattern with accommodation and food service activities up by 10.9%, administrative and support services by 8.2%, and information and communication at 6.3%. Professional services improved by 4.1% while transport activities continued their steady progression at 2.1%, even as real estate faced a cumulative decline of 3.4%. These figures highlight both the sectoral dynamism and the nuanced challenges that policymakers and business leaders must navigate in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.

Bank of Cyprus Upgrade Signals Fresh Optimism For Greek And Cypriot Banks

Regional Banks Enter A More Favorable Cycle

Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are well positioned to benefit from a renewed re-rating of Greek and Cypriot bank stocks, according to Cyprus-based investment firm Roemer Capital, which upgraded Bank of Cyprus to a buy rating and reaffirmed its positive view on Eurobank.

The firm cited easing geopolitical tensions, resilient economic growth in Greece and Cyprus, lower funding costs and Greece’s expected transition to developed-market status as the main factors supporting the sector.

Roemer Capital also lowered its cost of equity assumptions, updated its forecasts following first-quarter 2026 results and extended its valuation horizon to the end of 2027, raising target prices across its banking coverage.

Bank Of Cyprus Gets The Largest Upgrade

Bank of Cyprus received the biggest revision, with Roemer Capital upgrading the stock from hold to buy and setting a target price of €11.10, implying potential total upside of 27%.

The firm highlighted the bank’s strong capital generation, profitability and projected 100% dividend payout, describing it as the strongest capital-return story among the banks under coverage. Roemer Capital maintained its buy rating on Eurobank, assigning a target price of €4.90 and forecasting potential upside of 28%. The report said the bank is well placed to benefit from loan growth, improving operating performance and merger-and-acquisition synergies.

National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank also retained buy ratings, with expected returns ranging from 25% to 36%. Optima Bank was upgraded to buy, while Alpha Bank remained at hold on valuation grounds.

Why Growth Still Sets The Region Apart

According to Roemer Capital, Greek and Cypriot banks continue to benefit from stronger economic fundamentals than many western European peers. The report pointed to faster economic growth, healthier balance sheets, low levels of non-performing exposures, capital ratios approaching 20% and strong customer deposit bases.

Analysts expect performing loans across the sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% to 8% through 2028, supported by private investment, digitalisation, green manufacturing, supply-chain expansion and a gradual recovery in household lending.

The report also said the conclusion of lending under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is unlikely to materially affect credit growth, as banks have already shifted back towards traditional commercial lending. Roemer Capital expects Euribor to remain between 2.2% and 2.5%, a level it believes should support both lending activity and net interest margins.

Geopolitics, Valuation And Market Structure Support The Case

The report said improving geopolitical conditions have strengthened the investment outlook, noting that Brent crude prices have largely returned to pre-war levels while Greek government bond yields have stabilised at around 3.5%. Although geopolitical risks remain, Roemer Capital believes the likelihood of a major inflationary shock or significant pressure on bank profitability has eased.

Another important catalyst identified by the firm is Greece’s expected promotion to developed-market status by FTSE Russell, STOXX and MSCI over the coming months.

According to the report, the reclassification should improve liquidity and attract a broader base of international investors. Roemer Capital also said Euronext’s acquisition of the Athens Exchange is expected to strengthen market infrastructure and increase international visibility, particularly for Bank of Cyprus and Optima Bank.

The firm noted that Bank of Cyprus has already benefited from its Athens listing, with average daily trading value increasing from less than €400,000 before its September 2024 move to nearly €6 million afterwards.

Economic Momentum Remains A Core Tailwind

Roemer Capital said both Greece and Cyprus have moved beyond post-crisis recovery and are now supported by private-sector-led growth. For Cyprus, the report highlighted recent tax reform and efforts to simplify the legal and regulatory framework, while also noting that limited foreign banking competition continues to support domestic lenders.

Overall, Roemer Capital expects Greek and Cypriot banks to remain well-positioned for profitable loan growth over the coming years.

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