site.btaBulgarian Exports to EU Decrease by 6.6%, Imports Down by 0.6% for January - August 2023, Y/Y

The export of goods from Bulgaria to the European Union (EU) decreased by 6.6% in the period January – August 2023 in comparison with the same period last year and added up to some BGN 37.5 billion, show preliminary data published by the National Statistical Institute on Thursday. Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece and France, which accounted for 61.4% of the exports to the EU Member States.

The exports to the EU decreased by 11.1% in August compared to the same month of the previous year and amounted to over BGN 4.37 billion.

Imports of goods to Bulgaria from the EU dropped by 0.6% compared to the same period of 2022 and were worth some BGN 38.5 billion. The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece and the Netherlands.

In August 2023, the imports from the EU decreased by 5.2% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to over BGN 4.48 billion.

The export of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 8.5% in the period January – September 2023 in comparison with the same period last year and added up to over BGN 21.8 billion. Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Türkiye, the United States, China, Serbia, Ukraine, the Republic of North Macedonia and Egypt, which accounted for 50.9% of the exports to non-EU countries.

In September 2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 0.1% compared to the same month last year and amounted to some BGN 2.49 billion.

Imports of goods to Bulgaria from third countries dropped by 20.7% compared to the same period of 2022 and was worth some BGN 28.7 billion. The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from Türkiye, the Russian Federation, China and Serbia.

In September 2023, the imports of goods to Bulgaria from third countries decreased by 31.8% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to BGN 3.32 billion.