site.btaBulgaria's Total Exports Up 12.3 Per Cent in January-September 2017, Y/Y

Sofia, November 9 (BTA) - In the January - September 2017 period, the value of all goods exported from Bulgaria amounted to 38,598.2 million leva, up 12.3 per cent from the comparable period of the previous year, the National Statistical Institute reported on Thursday. In September 2017, total exports added up to 4,502.9 million leva, up 8.0 per cent from the like month of the previous year.

The total value of all the goods imported in the country in the January - September 2017 period amounted to 42,833.2 million leva (at CIF prices), or 15.8 per cent more than in the same period of 2016. In September 2017, total imports increased by 12.6 per cent from the like month of the previous year and added up to 4,707.0 million leva.

Bulgaria ran a 4,235.0 million leva total foreign trade deficit (exports FOB - imports CIF) in the January - September 2017 period. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of freight and insurance costs), the total foreign trade balance for the January - September 2017 period was also negative, amounting to 2,157.4 million leva. In September 2017, the country ran a 204.1 million leva total foreign trade deficit (exports FOB - imports CIF). At FOB/FOB prices, total foreign trade showed a 33.4 million leva surplus.

In the January - August 2017 period, Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 11.0 per cent from the comparable period of 2016 and added up to 22,401.6 million leva. Bulgaria's principal trading markets in this group were Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece, France and Belgium, which accounted for 67.9 per cent of the exports to EU Member States. In August 2017, exports to the EU grew by 9.4 per cent from the like month of the previous year and amounted to 2,932.9 million leva.

Bulgarian imports from the EU in the January - August 2017 period increased by 10.9 per cent from the comparable period of 2016 and added up to 24,193.4 million leva at CIF prices. The largest amounts of goods were imported from Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and Greece. In August 2017, Bulgarian imports from EU Member States grew by 12.3 per cent from the like month of the previous year and reached 3,129.3 million leva.

Bulgaria's foreign trade balance (exports FOB - imports CIF) with the EU in the January - August 2017 period was negative and added up to 1,791.8 million leva. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs), the trade balance was also negative and amounted to 632.9 million leva.

In the January - September 2017 period, Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 15.0 per cent from the comparable period of the previous year and amounted to 13,042.9 million leva. Bulgaria's principal markets in this group were Turkey, Russia, China, Serbia, Macedonia and the US, which accounted for 52.0 per cent of exports to non-EU countries. In September 2017, Bulgarian exports to third countries grew by 1.7 per cent from the like month of the previous year and amounted to 1,349.2 million leva.

Bulgarian imports from third countries in the January - September 2017 period increased by 25.0 per cent from the comparable period of the previous year and added up to 15,552.1 million leva (at CIF prices). The largest amounts of goods were imported from Russia, Turkey, China and Serbia. In September 2017, Bulgarian imports from third countries grew by 12.6 per cent from the like month of the previous year and amounted to 1,619.3 million leva.

Bulgaria's foreign trade balance (exports FOB - imports CIF) with third countries in the January - September 2017 period was negative and added up to 2,509.2 million leva. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs), the trade balance was also negative and amounted to 1,744.8 million leva. In September 2017, Bulgaria's foreign trade balance (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries was negative and amounted to 270.1 million leva.