Bulgarian foreign trade (preliminary data)

Bulgarian trade with EU for the period January - March 2013

In the period January - March 2013 the Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 13.1% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 6.1 Billion Levs. Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Germany, Italy, Greece, Romania and France which accounted for 70.7% of the exports to the EU Member States.

In March 2013 the exports to the EU increased by 6.4% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and exceeded 2.1 Billion Levs.

Bulgarian imports from the EU in the period January - March 2013 increased by 0.9% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and added up to 6.9 Billion Levs at CIF prices. The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and Greece.

In March 2013 the Bulgarian imports from the EU Member States decreased by 9.3% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 2.3 Billion Levs at CIF prices.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with EU in the period January – March 2013 was negative and added up to 753.5 Million Levs. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) the trade balance was also negative and amounted to 481.9 Million Levs.

In the first three months of 2013 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year the largest growth (80.9%) in the exports of Bulgaria to EU distributed according to the Standard International Trade Classification was recorded in the section “Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials”. The most notable fall (20.5%) was recorded in section “Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes”.

In imports from EU the largest increase (9.5%) was reported in section “Chemical and related products n.e.c.” while the most notable fall (8.5%) was observed in the section “Beverages and tobacco”.

Bulgarian trade with third countries for the period January - April 2013

In the period January - April 2013 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 18.3% compared to the corresponding period of 2012 and amounted to 5.7 Billion Levs. Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Turkey, Gibraltar, Russian Federation, China, Serbia and United States which accounted for 51.5% of the exports to non EU countries.

In April 2013 the exports to third countries increased by 35.1% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 1.7 Billion Levs.

Bulgarian imports from third countries in the first four months of 2013 grew by 0.9% compared to the corresponding period of 2012 and added up to 6.5 Billion Levs (at CIF prices). The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from Russian Federation, Turkey, China, Ukraine and Georgia.

In April 2013 the Bulgarian imports from third countries decreased by 10.2% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 1.7 Billion Levs.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries in the period January - April 2013 was negative and added up to 795.9 Million Levs. The trade balance at FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) was also negative and amounted to 503.6 Million Levs.

In April 2013 the foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries was negative and amounted to 84.8 Million Levs.

In the first four months of 2013 compared to the corresponding period of 2012 largest growths in the exports of Bulgaria to third countries distributed according to the Standard International Trade Classification were recorded in the sections: “Food and live animals” (103.6%) and “Machinery and transport equipment” (44.6%). The most notable fall was reported in section “Animals and vegetable oils, fats and waxes” (13.2%).

In imports from third countries the largest growth was reported in section “Beverages and tobacco” (53.2%) while the most notable fall was observed in section “Machinery and transport equipment” (12.9%).

Bulgarian trade with third countries and EU – total

In the period January - April 2013 the value of all exported goods from Bulgaria amounted to 14.1 Billion Levs and compared to the corresponding period of the previous year the exports increased by 15.2%.

In April 2013 the total exports added up to 3.9 Billion Levs and grew by 21.6% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

The total value of all the goods imported in the country in the period January - April 2013 amounted to 16.0 Billion Levs (at CIF prices), or by 2.5% more than the corresponding period of the previous year.

In April 2013 the total imports increased by 1.5% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and added up to 4.4 Billion Levs.

The total foreign trade balance (exports FOB - import CIF) was negative in the period January - April 2013 and amounted to 1 965.3 Million Levs which was 1 463.3 Million Levs less than the balance in the first four months of 2012. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) in the period January - April 2013 the total foreign trade balance was also negative and amounted to 1 271.0 Million Levs.

In April 2013 the total foreign trade balance (exports FOB - import CIF) was negative and added up to 500.7 Million Levs. The trade balance at FOB/FOB prices was also negative and amounted to 299.9 Million Levs.

Source: National Statistical Institute