Greece is an important destination for Transuniverse, with no fewer than 15 to 20 departures per week. We owe this strong position to our high frequency, years of experience, and knowledge of the Greek market. The economy is steadily recovering, presenting opportunities for Belgian exporters. That’s why Transuniverse strengthened its team by hiring Maria Papageorgiou, a specialist in the Greek market.
Maria is of Greek origin and has lived in Belgium for over 30 years – first in Beringen, where her father was a miner, and later in Ghent. She has worked in the transport sector for many years, mainly in groupage and part-load shipments. Greece is her true specialty. Since April, she has teamed up with Senior Traffic Operator Pascal Willaert to optimize and expand traffic to Greece.
“Currently, Transuniverse guarantees at least three departures per day to Greece. At times, the frequency increases to 20 trucks per week. Many large clients ship several pallets daily, but we’re also seeing increased shipments from SMEs. More and more exporters with one or two pallets per week have found their way to Transuniverse,” says Pascal. Temperature-controlled trucks are also available for sensitive shipments.
Success factor: Logika
“One success factor in this growth is the excellent cooperation with our Greek agent Logika, who ensures fine-mesh distribution. They have transshipment centers in Thessaloniki and Athens, enabling us to guarantee lead times – from door to door – of just seven days,” he adds.
“Thanks to its modern management and advanced IT infrastructure, Logika is quite exceptional in Greece. Many Greek transport companies are rather conservative and – so to speak – don’t even know what EDI is. Logika, on the other hand, has a young management team that strongly focuses on digitalization. That makes it a perfect match with Transuniverse,” says Maria.
“Digital communication is optimal, but personal contact remains absolutely essential. That’s why my knowledge of Greek is clearly an advantage – not only to discuss specific questions or requests with the people at Logika, but also to communicate with the drivers,” she adds.
Greek economy steadily recovering
That Transuniverse’s traffic to Greece continues to grow should come as no surprise. The days when the country was called “Europe’s sick man” are behind us. The severe debt crisis that broke out in 2010 and forced Greece to rely on EU and IMF aid was eventually brought under control after years of strict austerity and structural reforms.
Today, the situation has fundamentally changed. In 2024, Greece posted a budget surplus of 1.3% – despite a national debt that still amounts to 153.6% of GDP. The economy is showing resilience again: for 2025, growth of 2.1% to 2.3% is expected. This is faster than the eurozone average, thanks in part to significant investments by multinationals and a revival of domestic consumption.
Imports on the rise, exports recovering
In 2024, Greek imports rose by 2.2%, while exports declined by 2.1%. This drop was particularly noticeable in the first half of the year. However, exports picked up again in the second half, growing by 5.5%. For 2025, analysts expect a further increase in exports by 3% to 4%, partly due to improved production figures in the food sector.
Opportunities for Belgian exporters
Bilateral trade between Belgium and Greece is healthy and promising. In 2020, Greece was the 33rd largest buyer of Belgian goods, accounting for an export value of 1.6 billion euros. Imports from Greece amounted to 336.6 million euros that year, resulting in a substantial trade surplus of 1.3 billion euros.
Belgian exports to Greece mainly include machinery, transport equipment, parts, pharmaceutical products, chemicals, and foodstuffs. Conversely, Belgium imports mainly foodstuffs, agricultural products, textiles, and metal products from Greece. The food and beverage industry also plays a key role in bilateral trade, with Belgium being one of Greece’s main suppliers.
