This year’s Thessaloniki trade fair brings Greece and Japan closer

Japan’s first appearance as the honored country at the Thessaloniki International Fair will center on Takumi, a Japanese concept meaning “craftsman” or “master.” The philosophy emphasizes lifelong dedication to perfecting a craft through precision, detail, skill and human-centered design.

The article presents those qualities as a bridge between the two countries. Greeks have long favored Japanese cars, which account for more than 57% of the total value of Greek imports from Japan. Greek products, meanwhile, face a demanding market far from home, making their presence there a notable achievement.

Despite that longstanding interest in Japanese technology and the more recent popularity of sushi, trade and investment ties remain relatively low. Provisional data from Greece’s statistics authority show that Greek exports to Japan reached 318.20 million euros in 2025, up from 224.37 million euros in 2024. Japanese imports fell to 279.36 million euros from 306.18 million euros.

The trade balance favors Greece, largely because Japan Tobacco International bought SEKAP in 2018 and gained production operations in Greece. Tobacco products and manufactured tobacco substitutes, including heated products, made up 81.7% of Greek exports to Japan in 2025. The Japanese company’s Greek subsidiary produces those goods.

Fruit and vegetable preparations followed tobacco products, accounting for 3.3% of exports. Aluminum ranked third at 2.1%. Greece imports Japanese machinery and equipment for technological and industrial use, which represented 15.14% of imports from Japan, as well as nuclear reactors, boilers, ships and other floating structures.

The rising export figures suggest room for expansion, but the structure of trade also shows how heavily the current relationship depends on tobacco manufacturing. The Thessaloniki fair is presented as an opportunity to bring the two economies closer while showcasing a Japanese model built around quality and craftsmanship.