Bulgarian foreign trade January - October 2014 (preliminary data)

Bulgarian trade with EU

In the period January - September 2014 Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 2.1% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 19.9 Billion BGN. Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece, France and Belgium which accounted for 71.3% of the exports to the EU Member States.

In September 2014 the exports to the EU decreased by 2.5% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 2.4 Billion BGN.

Bulgarian imports from the EU in the period January - September 2014 increased by 2.8% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and added up to 22.9 Billion BGN at CIF prices. The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece and Spain.

In September 2014 the Bulgarian imports from the EU Member States decreased by 1.3% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 2.8 Billion BGN at CIF prices.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with the EU in the period January - September 2014 was negative and added up to 2 944.1 Million BGN. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) the trade balance was also negative and amounted to 2 022.5 Million BGN.

In the first nine months of 2014 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year the largest growth (14.2%) in the exports of Bulgaria to the EU distributed according to the Standard International Trade Classification was recorded in the section “Animals and vegetable oils, fats and waxes”. The most notable fall was recorded in sections “Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials” (20.1%) and “Beverages and tobacco” (20.0%).

In imports from the EU the largest growth (9.0%) was reported in section “Chemical and related products n.e.c.” while the most notable fall (15.9%) was observed in section “Animals and vegetable oils, fats and waxes”.

Bulgarian trade with third countries

In the period January - October 2014 Bulgarian exports to third countries decreased by 7.1% compared to the corresponding period of 2013 and amounted to 13.5 Billion BGN. Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Turkey, Singapore, Russian Federation, China, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia which accounted for 53.0% of the exports to non-EU countries.

In October 2014 exports to third countries decreased by 2.5% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 1.5 Billion BGN.

Bulgarian imports from third countries in the first ten months of 2014 decreased by 2.8% compared to the corresponding period of 2013 and added up to 16.5 Billion BGN (at CIF prices). The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from the Russian Federation, Turkey, China and Ukraine.

In October 2014 Bulgarian imports from third countries decreased by 2.7% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 1.7 Billion BGN.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries in the period January - October 2014 was negative and added up to 2 992.1 Million BGN. The trade balance at FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) was also negative and amounted to 2 210.0 Million BGN.

In October 2014 the foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries was negative and amounted to 191.5 Million BGN.

In the first ten months of 2014 compared to the corresponding period of 2013 in the exports of Bulgaria to third countries distributed according to the Standard International Trade Classification the largest growth was recorded in the section ‘Animals and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (24.6%). The most notable falls were reported in sections ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuels)’  (27.0%) and ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (15.0%).

In imports from third countries the largest growths were reported in sections ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’ (15.3%) and ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (15.3%) while the most notable fall was observed in section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (15.1%).

Bulgarian trade with third countries and EU - total

In the period January - October 2014 the value of all exported goods from Bulgaria amounted to 35.9 Billion BGN and compared to the corresponding period of 2013 the exports decreased by 1.4%.

In October 2014 the total exports added up to 4.0 Billion BGN and increased by 1.9% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

The total value of all the goods imported in the country in the period January - October 2014 amounted to 42.4 Billion BGN (at CIF prices), or by 0.9 % more than corresponding period of 2013.

In October 2014 the total imports increased by 4.4% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and added up to 4.7 Billion BGN.