site.btaGross External Debt at EUR 45.2 Billion as of End-March

Bulgaria’s gross external debt amounted to EUR 45,266.8 million (50.1% of GDP) at end-March 2023, growing by EUR 3,895.5 million (9.4%) from end-March 2022 (EUR 41,371.4 million, 48.9% of GDP), the Bulgarian National Bank said on Tuesday.

Short-term liabilities equalled EUR 8,536 million (18.9% of the total debt, 9.4% of GDP), growing by EUR 1,250.3 million (17.2%) from end-March 2022 (EUR 7,285.7 million, 17.6% of the total debt, 8.6% of GDP).

Long-term liabilities totalled EUR 36,730.8 million (81.1% of the total debt, 40.7% of GDP) at end-March 2023, growing by EUR 2,645.2 million (7.8%) from end-March 2022 (EUR 34,085.6 million, 82.4% of the total debt, 40.3% of GDP).

Gross external liabilities with remaining maturity over one year totalled EUR 27,066.5 million (59.8%) in March 2023. At end-March 2023, 79.3% of gross external liabilities were denominated in euros, compared to 79.6% at end-March 2022.

General government’s gross external debt totalled EUR 9,629.5 million (10.7% of GDP), growing by EUR 2,057.7 million (27.2%) from end-March 2022 (EUR 7,571.8 million, 9% of GDP).

The external liabilities of Bulgaria’s central bank stood at EUR 2,012.9 million (2.2% of GDP), growing by EUR 74.2 million (3.8%) from end-March 2022 (EUR 1,938.6 million, 2.3% of GDP).

The external liabilities of other monetary financial institutions totalled EUR 6,504.4 million (7.2% of GDP), increasing by EUR 1,408.1 million (27.6%) from end-March 2022 (EUR 5,096.3 million, 6% of GDP).

Other sectors’ external debt equalled EUR 12,410.3 million (13.7% of GDP), decreasing by EUR 203.1 million (1.6%) from end-March 2022 (EUR 12,613.4 million, 14.9% of GDP).

The stock of intercompany lending amounted to EUR 14,709.9 million (16.3% of GDP) at end-March 2023, growing by EUR 558.6 million (3.9%) from end-March 2022 (EUR 14,151.3 million, 16.7% of GDP). It held the largest share in external debt, equating to 32.5% at end-March 2023, compared to 34.2% at end-March 2022.