site.btaGeneral Government's Gross External Debt Up by 7.8% at End-February, Y/Y

The General Government sector’s gross external debt at the end of February 2024 stood at close to EUR 10.8 billion (10.7% of the projected GDP), the Bulgarian National Bank said on Monday. It increased by EUR 781.3 million (7.8%) year-on-year.

Bulgaria's gross external debt at the end of February 2024 amounted to just over EUR 44.4 billion (43.9 percent of GDP). This is an increase of nearly EUR 161 million (0.4%) compared to the end of February 2023.

Short-term liabilities stood at over EUR 7.3 billion (16.5% of the total debt, 7.2% of GDP), down by EUR 803.1 million (9.9%) year-on-year. Long-term liabilities amounted to nearly EUR 37.1 billion (83.5% of the total debt, 36.6% of GDP), up by EUR 964.1 million (2.7%) from February 2023.

The BNB's external liabilities were some EUR 1.918 billion (1.9% of GDP). They went down by EUR 73.8 million (3.7%) on an annual basis. The external liabilities of other monetary financial institutions were nearly EUR 6.113 billion (6% of GDP), decreasing by EUR 382.5 million (5.9%) year-on-year.

The external debt of other sectors amounted to just over EUR 12 billion (11.9% of GDP). It decreased by EUR 216 million (1.8%) on an annual basis.

The stock of intercompany lending stood at EUR 13,546.2 million (13.4% of GDP) at end-February 2024, increasing by EUR 51.9 million (0.4%) from end-February 2023 (EUR 13,494.3 million, 14.4% of GDP). It held the largest share of external debt, equating to 30.5% at the end of February 2024, and maintaining the end-February 2023 value.