site.btaBalance of Payments on Current and Capital Account in EUR 518 Mln Surplus for June 2017 - Central Bank

Sofia, August 17 (BTA) - Bulgaria's current and capital account recorded a surplus of 517.8 million euro in June 2017, compared with a positive balance of 854.3 million euro in June 2016, the Bulgarian National Bank reported on Thursday.

The current account was positive, amounting to 480.5 million euro, in June 2017, compared with a surplus of 713.6 million euro in June 2016.

The capital account recorded a surplus of 37.3 million euro, compared with a positive balance of 140.7 million euro in June 2016.

The financial account recorded a net inflow of 1.2 million euro, compared with an inflow of 784.4 million euro in June 2016.

The balance on goods recorded a deficit of 24.8 million euro in June 2017, compared with a deficit of 126.7 million euro in June 2016.

Exports of goods amounted to 2,374.9 million euro in June 2017, growing by 432.4 million euro (22.3 per cent) from June 2016 (1,942.5 million euro). In January - June 2016 exports dropped by 3.4 per cent, year-on-year.

Imports of goods amounted to 2,399.7 million euro in June 2017, growing by 330.5 million euro (16 per cent) from June 2016. In January - June 2016 imports dropped by 5.6 per cent, year-on-year.

Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria (under the directional principle) grew by 171.1 million euro in June 2017 according to preliminary data, compared with an increase of 235.1 million euro in June 2016.

The largest net direct investment inflows in Bulgaria for January - June 2017 were from the Netherlands (283.3 million euro) and Switzerland (104.6 million euro).

According to preliminary data, direct investment abroad grew by 132.8 million euro, compared with an increase of 62.3 million euro in January - June 2016. Direct investment abroad increased by 36.3 million euro in June 2017, compared with an increase of 40.1 million euro in June 2016.