Bulgarian trade with EU
In the period January - April 2012 Bulgarian exports to the EU decreased by 1.4% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to over BGN 7.4 billion. The main trade partners of Bulgaria were Germany, Italy, Greece, Romania and France that formed 65.7% of the total exports to the EU Member States. The most significant growths were observed in the exports to Slovenia and Portugal, while the most notable falls were registered in the exports to Luxembourg and Malta.
Bulgarian imports from the EU in the period January - April 2012 increased by 7.9% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and exceeded BGN 8.9 billion at CIF prices. The most significant growths were reported on the imports from Cyprus and Portugal, while the largest decreases - in the imports from Malta and Spain.
Bulgarian trade with third countries
In the period January - May 2012 Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 3.3% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to BGN 6.4 billion. The main trade partners of Bulgaria were Turkey, China, Russia, Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that formed 46.6% of the exports to non-EU countries . The exports to United Arab Emirates, Israel, Canada, Syria and Brazil increased significantly, while the most significant falls were reported on the exports to Singapore, India, Iran, South Africa and Croatia.
In May 2012 the exports to third countries increased by 25.0% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to BGN 1.5 billion.
Bulgarian imports from third countries in the first five months of 2012 increased by 15.8% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and added up to BGN 8.5 billion (at CIF prices). The most significant growths were reported on the imports from Peru, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Brazil while the largest decreases were observed in the imports from Kazakhstan, Israel and Ukraine.
The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries in the period January - May 2012 was negative and added up to BGN 2 088.0 million. The trade balance at FOB /FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) was also negative and amounted to BGN 1 659.4 million.
In the first five months of 2012 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, the largest growths in the exports of Bulgaria to third countries, distributed according to the Standard International Trade Classification were recorded in the sections “Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes”, “Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)” and “Beverages and tobacco”. Falls were observed in the sections “Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material”, “Machinery and transport equipment” and “Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials”.
The largest growth in imports from third countries was reported in section “Machinery and transport equipment”. Fall was observed only in section “Food and live animals”.