Financing for ships in Greece went up 11.5% in 2025, from $54.5 billion to $59.7 billion, with the Petrofin Index going up from 324 in 2024 to 361 at the end of 2025.

In 2025, there was a big increase in bank financing for Greek merchant ships, with Greek banks being the leaders in this field. According to the most recent report from Petrofin Research, bank financing for the Greek shipping sector has seen a notable rise, increasing from 5% in 2024 to 11.5%. This growth has led to a significant increase in total Greek loans, both disbursed and committed but not yet disbursed, which now stand at $59,687.69 million as of the end of 2025. This figure encompasses both domestic and global records. This marked the second consecutive year of growth, up from $53,510.88 million in 2024.

Petrofin Bank Research

Petrofin Bank Research says that financing for ships in Greece went up 11.5% in 2025, from $54.5 billion to $59.7 billion, with the Petrofin Index going up from 324 in 2024 to 361 at the end of 2025. With a 34% growth from $18.6 billion in 2024 to $25 billion in 2025, Greek banks occupied the top three spots among all lenders lending to Greek owners and stood out for their exceptional performance. According to Shipping Italy

 The top lender to the Greek maritime sector.

For the first time, the National Bank of Greece was ranked the top lender to the Greek maritime sector, with exceptional growth of 53% (including commitments). Eurobank came second, Piraeus Bank third and Alpha Bank fifth. A significant increase of 16.5% was recorded in the financing volume of the top 10 Greek banks specialising in ship financing, which reached $41.91 billion compared to $35.98 billion in 2024. Their market share has grown steadily, reaching 70% for the first time in many years, compared to 67% in 2024.

The significant expansion of Greek banks' portfolios 

The significant expansion of Greek banks' portfolios is, according to Petrofin Research, due to their long-term commitment and industry expertise. This has allowed them to earn the trust of owners, particularly medium- and small-sized operators, who appreciate consistent support throughout market cycles. Additionally, the enhanced creditworthiness of both Greek banks and Greece itself has allowed them to provide appealing margins and loan fees.

Retared: Greeks’ Frontrunners In Fleet Renewal

Providing significant individual financing for vessels and fleets.

Moreover, Greek banks have started providing significant individual financing for vessels and fleets, with a particular focus on newbuildings. This has enabled Greek shipowners to obtain loans from both major international banks and Greek banks, the latter of which consistently provide loans directly without resorting to pools or joint arrangements.

Additional services and revenue streams

Moreover, a wide range of additional services and revenue streams have been introduced by Greek banks for their clients. These include foreign exchange transactions, interest rate hedging, private banking, investment products, real estate financing, hotel financing, as well as the use of deposits and various retail banking products.

 International banks

A 4.3% decline was seen in international banks without a presence in Greece, reversing the 2.5% growth recorded the previous year. Both international banks with and without a presence in Greece found it increasingly difficult to compete with Greek banks, with their combined portfolios showing modest growth of just 3%.

Source: Shipping Italy

#Petrofin Bank Research # Greek banks#Eurobank #Piraeus Bank #international banks # Greek shipping sector #Europe #Alpha Bank #National Bank of Greece