Feta cheese and olive oil continue to lead Greece’s agricultural export drive, with their combined overseas sales surpassing €2.1 billion last year and reinforcing their status as the country’s most powerful culinary ambassadors.
The two iconic products form the backbone of rural economies across Greece, supporting hundreds of thousands of producers, processors, and local communities.
According to data highlighted by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, feta and olive oil together accounted for a significant share of Greek food exports in 2025, showcasing the strength of Greek authenticity and quality on the global stage.
Feta Dominates Cheese Exports
Greece’s flagship cheese remains a standout performer. In 2025, domestic feta production reached approximately 152,700 tons — representing nearly 64% of the country’s recorded cheese output (excluding whey cheeses).
The product absorbed 75% of sheep’s milk and 41% of goat’s milk produced nationally, meaning 69% of total sheep and goat milk output was channelled into feta.
Exports were particularly robust, with around 105,000 tons (69% of production) shipped abroad, generating €835 million. This performance equates to 9% of the total value of Greek food exports.
Germany remains the top destination, followed by Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. These five markets absorb roughly 70% of Greek feta exports.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Secretary General for Rural Development and Food Spyros Protopsaltis said feta’s success proves that products with consistent quality, authenticity, and strong ties to their place of origin can excel even in the most competitive international markets.
Olive Oil Maintains Global Standing
Greek olive oil exports reached €1.31 billion in 2025, accounting for 12.4% of the country’s total food exports.
For the current 2025-2026 season, production is forecast at around 235,000 tons, with exports expected to hit 139,000 tons. Greece continues to rank fourth globally in olive oil production, behind Spain, Turkey, and Tunisia.
The sector involves some 700,000 producers nationwide, supported by 33 registered designations (20 PDO and 13 PGI).
Protopsaltis stressed the need to shift more volume toward branded, packaged products: “It is not enough to produce an excellent product. We must market it with the value and identity it deserves so that more of the final price returns to Greek producers and the national economy.”
Olive Register to Streamline Sector
Authorities are moving forward with the modernisation of the Olive Register (Ελαιοκομικό Μητρώο) to improve data accuracy on olive groves, production, and holdings.
Mandatory olive harvest declarations, originally planned earlier, have been deferred to the 2026-2027 season (starting 1 October 2026) to allow for technical upgrades.
The ministry aims to achieve full interoperability with tax authority systems (AADE) and the Integrated Administration and Control System (OSDE), enabling automatic data exchange and reducing paperwork for producers.
“The Olive Register should be a modern tool, not another bureaucratic burden,” Protopsaltis said. “We need reliable data, traceability and effective controls — achieved through simple procedures and by using information the state already possesses.”
The developments underscore the government’s focus on protecting and enhancing two of Greece’s most valuable agricultural assets.