In the period January - February 2012, Bulgarian exports to the EU decreased by 8.1% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and exceeded BGN 3.3 billion. The main trade partners of Bulgaria were Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece and France that formed 66.0% of the total exports to the EU Member States. The most significant growths were observed in the exports to Slovenia and Lithuania. The most notable falls were registered in the exports to Luxembourg and Portugal.
In February 2012 the exports to the EU decreased by 8.9% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and exceeded BGN 1.6 billion.
Bulgarian imports from the EU in the period January - February 2012 increased by 6.7% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and reached BGN 4.1 billion at CIF prices. The most significant growths were reported on the imports from Cyprus, Luxembourg and Netherlands. The largest decreases were observed in the imports from Malta and Finland.
In February 2012, Bulgarian imports from the EU Member States increased by 11.6% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to BGN 2.1 billion at CIF prices.
The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with EU in the period January – February 2012 was negative and amounted to BGN 709.4 million. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) the trade balance was also negative and amounted to BGN 520.0 million.
The exports of Bulgaria to EU, distributed according to the Standard International Trade Classification, decreased in most of the sections in the first two months of 2012 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The largest falls were reported in sections “Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials” and “Crude materials, inedible (except fuels)”. The largest growths were recorded in the sections “Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes” and „Beverages and tobacco”.
In imports from EU significant fall was reported in section “Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes”. The largest growth was reported in section „Beverages and tobacco”.