site.btaBulgaria's Current and Capital Account Record EUR 792.2 Mln Surplus in August 2017

Sofia, October 19 (BTA) - Bulgaria's current and capital account recorded a surplus of 792.2 million euro in August 2017, compared with a positive balance of 575.7 million euro in August 2016. In January-August 2017 the current and capital account was positive amounting to 2,624 million euro (5.2% of GDP), compared with a surplus of 3,178.1 million euro (6.6% of GDP) in January-August 2016.

The current account was positive amounting to 751.1 million euro in August 2017, compared with a surplus of 570.5 million euro in August 2016. In January-August 2017 the current account was positive and amounted to 2,315.5 million euro (4.6% of GDP), compared with a surplus of 2237.6 million euro (4.6% of GDP) in January-August 2016.

The capital account recorded a surplus of 41.1 million euro in August 2017, compared with a positive balance of 5.2 million euro in August 2016. In January-August 2017 the capital account recorded a surplus of 308.5 million euro (0.6% of GDP), compared with a positive balance of 940.4 million euro (2% of GDP) in January-August 2016.

The financial account recorded a net inflow of 664.3 million euro in August 2017, compared with an inflow of 735.6 million euro in August 2016. In January-August 2017 the financial account recorded a net inflow of 1,114 million euro (2.2% of GDP) compared with an inflow of 2,937.4 million euro (6.1% of GDP) in January-August 2016.

The balance on goods recorded a deficit of 205.1 million euro in August 2017, compared with a deficit of 129.1 million euro in August 2016. In January-August 2017 the balance on goods was negative amounting to 1,427.2 million euro (2.8% of GDP), compared with a deficit of 689.3 million euro (1.4% of GDP) in January-August 2016.

Exports of goods amounted to 2,216.5 million euro in August 2017, growing by 235.1 million euro (11.9%) from August 2016. In January-August 2017 exports of goods totalled 16,864.2 million euro (33.6% of GDP), increasing by 2,105.5 million euro (14.3%) year-on-year. In January-August 2016 exports dropped by 0.02% year-on-year.

Imports of goods amounted to 2,421.6 million euro in August 2017, growing by 311.2 million euro (14.7%) from August 2016. In January-August 2017 imports of goods totalled 18,291.3 million euro (36.5% of GDP), growing by 2,843.3 million euro (18.4%) from January-August 2016. In January-August 2016 imports dropped by 4.5% year-on-year.

Services recorded a positive balance of 754.6 million euro in August 2017, compared with a surplus of 715.2 million euro in August 2016. In January-August 2017 services recorded a surplus of 2,672.5 million euro (5.3% of GDP) compared with a positive balance of 2,372.8 million euro (4.9% of GDP) in the same period of 2016.

Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria (under the directional principle) increased by 71.6 million euro in August 2017 according to preliminary data, compared with an increase of 158.1 million euro in August 2016. In January-August 2017 foreign direct investment in Bulgaria equated to 516.4 million euro, compared with 1,124.7 million euro in January-August 2016.

Bulgarian direct investment abroad rose by 2.3 million euro in August 2017, compared with an increase of 68 million euro in August 2016. In January-August 2017 Bulgarian direct investment abroad grew by 115.8 million euro, compared with an increase of 162.7 million euro in the same period of 2016.