site.btaBulgaria's Total Exports Up 2.4 Per Cent in January-March 2018, Y/Y

Sofia, May 11 (BTA) - In the January - March 2018 period, the value of all goods exported from Bulgaria amounted to 12,464.7 million leva, up 2.4 per cent from the comparable period of the previous year, according to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute reported on Friday.

In March 2018, the total exports added up to 4,443.6 million leva, up 1.6 per cent from the like month of the previous year.

The total value of all the goods imported in the country in the January - March 2018 period amounted to 14,756.3 million leva (at CIF prices), or 5.7 per cent more than in the same period of 2017. In March 2018 the total imports decreased by 3.4 per cent from the like month of the previous year and added up to 5,127.9 million leva.

Bulgaria ran a 2,291.6 million leva total foreign trade deficit (exports FOB - imports CIF) in the January - March 2018 period. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of freight and insurance costs), the total foreign trade balance for the January - March 2018 period was also negative, amounting to 1,377.4 million leva.

In March 2018, the country ran a 684.3 million leva total foreign trade deficit (exports FOB - imports CIF). At FOB/FOB prices, total foreign trade showed a 400.5 million leva deficit.

In the January - February 2018 period, Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 16.5 per cent from the comparable period of 2017 and added up to 5,780.2 million leva. In February 2018, exports to the EU grew by 6.4 per cent from the like month of the previous year and amounted to 2,685.9 million leva.

Bulgarian imports from the EU in the January - February 2018 period increased by 12.3 per cent from the comparable period of 2017 and added up to 6,145.1 million leva at CIF prices. The largest amounts of goods were imported from Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and Greece. In February 2018, Bulgarian imports from EU Member States grew by 3.5 per cent from the like month of the previous year and reached 2,918.8 million leva.

Bulgaria's foreign trade balance (exports FOB - imports CIF) with the EU in the January - February 2018 period was negative and added up to 364.9 million leva. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs), the trade balance was also negative and amounted to 7.8 million leva.

In the January - March 2018 period, Bulgarian exports to third countries decreased by 17.4 per cent from the comparable period of the previous year and amounted to 3,504.9 million leva. In March 2018, Bulgarian exports to third countries dropped by 10.4 per cent from the like month of the previous year and amounted to 1,264.0 million leva.

Bulgarian imports from third countries in the January - March 2018 period decreased by 4 per cent from the comparable period of the previous year and added up to 4,955.2 million leva (at CIF prices). The largest amounts of goods were imported from Russia, Turkey, China and Serbia. In March 2018, Bulgarian imports from third countries decreased by 25.6 per cent from the like month of the previous year and amounted to 1,471.9 million leva.

Bulgaria's foreign trade balance (exports FOB - imports CIF) with third countries in the January - March 2018 period was negative and added up to 1,450.3 million leva. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs), the trade balance was also negative and amounted to 1,091.6 million leva. In March 2018, Bulgaria's foreign trade balance (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries was negative and amounted to 207.9 million leva.