Filenews 19 January 2024
Increases in commodity costs due to the increased risk of crossing the Suez Canal due to Yemen's Houthi attacks began to be felt around the world with Greece and the port of Piraeus not being unaffected, the president of the Athens Chamber of Tradesmen, Yiannis Hadjitheodosiou, told ERT.
"At the moment, about 200,000 containers have not come to Piraeus because of the blockade (of the Suez Canal) and essentially what these ships are obliged to do is circumnavigate Africa, which means 15 to 20 days delay," Hadjitheodosiou explained.
The president said that this delay, in addition to the longer delivery time, also has an impact on transportation costs, noting that each container now incurs $6,000 and increased premiums.
He estimated that if a solution is not found immediately, there is a risk on the one hand of long delays and therefore shortage of products and on the other hand of a large increase in the prices of imported products due to the burden on freight rates and insurance premiums.
As he explained, 40% of Greece's imports come from the Far East and mainly concern electrical and electronic goods, clothing, etc.
Fuel prices are likely to have an impact, he said, as a large proportion of oil reaching Europe passes through the Suez Strait.
"Growth and inflation will be everywhere," Hadjitheodosiou said.
Capital.gr
