A meeting took place at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) between the President Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov and Bulgaria’s newly appointed Ambassador to the Netherlands, Elizabeth Varbanova.
During the discussion, it was noted that there is an imbalance in the trade relations between the two countries. According to Mr. Simeonov, over 60% of Bulgaria’s trade turnover is with EU countries, and the Netherlands has traditionally ranked among Bulgaria’s six most active trading partners.
An agreement was reached to ensure active information exchange regarding Bulgarian companies interested in partnerships with Dutch companies, verification and references for potential business partners, assistance in trade arbitration, and other forms of cooperation.
Statistical data on bilateral trade confirm that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a traditional and strategic partner of Bulgaria, with trade flows showing steady growth over the past 12 years. Data for the period 2012–2025 reveal several clear trends.
From 2012 to 2022, the trade is more than tripled – from €1.15 billion to a record €3.28 billion. Key drivers include the expansion of production chains linked to Dutch companies, increased imports of machinery, equipment, and chemical products, growing Bulgarian exports of electrical components, metals, food products, and IT services and others.
A slight decline was observed during the pandemic in 2020, followed by strong growth in 2021–2022. The year 2022 marked a peak for all indicators: exports +31.7%; imports +28.6%; total trade +29.6%. This growth is attributed to inflationary pressures on energy and raw material prices, increased logistics costs, and the recovery of European manufacturing after COVID-19.
In 2025, signs of stabilization are emerging. Data for the first half of the year indicate modest growth: exports +5.2%; imports +4.8%; total trade +0.06%, suggesting a stabilization of bilateral trade after two years of decline.