site.btaDecember Exports Up by 15%-plus Y-Y

December Exports Up by 15%-plus Y-Y

Sofia, February 9 (BTA) - In December 2016, exports totalled 3,975 million leva, an increase of 15.1 per cent from December 2015, according to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, released on Thursday.

In 2016, imports totaled 51,005.8 million leva (at CIF prices), or 1.1 per cent down from 2015. In December 2016, exports grew by 6.9 per cent from December 2015 to 4,610.1 million leva.

2016 saw a foreign trade deficit (export FOB-import CIF) to the amount of 4,900.9 million leva. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transportation and insurance costs), the balance was negative at 2,445 million leva.

In December 2016, a foreign trade deficit (export FOB-import CIF) was reported of 635.1 million leva. At FOB/FOB prices the deficit was 408.1 million leva.

Between January and November 2016m Bulgarian exports to the EU grew by 6.8 per cent in comparison with the same period of 2015 to 28,707.3 million leva. Bulgaria's main trade partners were Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece and France, accounting for 64 per cent of exports to the EU Member States. In November 2016, exports to the EU increased by 12.8 per cent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year to 2,781.7 million leva.

January-November imports from the EU increased by 1.9 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching 30,877.7 million leva at CIF prices. The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece and Poland. In November 2016, the Bulgarian imports from the EU Member States grew by 1.7 per cent in comparison with November 2015 and amounted to 3,098.1 million leva.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with the EU in the period January - November 2016 was negative and added up to 2,170.4 million leva. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) the trade balance was also negative and amounted to 717.7 million leva.

In 2016, Bulgarian exports to third countries decreased by 5.9 per cent compared to 2015, amounting to 14,957 million leva. Bulgaria's main trading partners were Turkey, China, Macedonia, Serbia, Russia and the US, accounting for 49 per cent of exports to non-EU countries. In December 2016, Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 18.9 per cent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year to 1,534.4 million leva.

Bulgarian imports from third countries in 2016 decreased by 7.1 per cent compared to 2015 and added up to 17,090.2 million leva (at CIF prices). The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from Russia, Turkey, China and Ukraine. In December 2016, Bulgarian imports from third countries increased by 8.8 per cent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 1,572.2 million leva.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries in 2016 was negative and added up to 2,133.2 million leva. The trade balance at FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) was also negative and amounted to 1,291.9 million leva. In December 2016 the foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries was negative and added up to 37.8 million leva.