site.btaBulgaria Posts EUR 539.8 Mln Trade Deficit for September 2024 - Central Bank

Bulgaria's balance of payments on goods recorded a deficit of EUR 539.8 million in September 2024, compared with a deficit of EUR 228.2 million in September 2023, the Bulgarian National Bank said on Monday.

In January - September 2024, the balance on goods was negative, amounting to EUR 3.5324 billion (3.5% of GDP), compared with a deficit of EUR 2.306 billion (2.4% of GDP) during the same period last year.

Data show that exports of goods amounted to EUR 3.4102 billion in September, marking a year-on-year decline of EUR 246.3 million (6.7%). In January-September 2024, exports totalled EUR 31.8663 billion (31.8% of GDP), down by EUR 1.0142 billion (3.1%) compared to the same period in 2023.

Imports of goods amounted to EUR 3.9499 billion in September 2024, up by EUR 65.2 million (1.7%) year-on-year. In January - September, imports totalled EUR 35.3987 billion (35.3% of GDP), increasing by EUR 212.1 million (0.6%) on an annual basis.

According to preliminary data, foreign direct investment in Bulgaria (under the directional principle) increased by EUR 314.6 million in September 2024, compared with a growth of EUR 277.3 million in September 2023. In January – September 2024, foreign direct investment in Bulgaria grew by EUR 1.2419 billion, compared with an increase of EUR 3.381 billion in January – September 2023.