site.btaBulgaria Runs EUR 652.2 Mln Trade Balance Deficit for July 2025 - Central Bank

Bulgaria's balance of payments on goods recorded a deficit of EUR 652.2 million in July 2025, compared with a negative balance of EUR 120.4 million in July 2024, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) reported on Thursday.

In January - July 2025, the balance on goods was negative, amounting to EUR 4,514.9 million (4% of GDP), compared with a deficit of EUR 2,210.2 million (2.1% of GDP) in January - July 2024.

Exports of goods amounted to EUR 3,678.8 million in July 2025, dropping by EUR 510.7 million (12.2%) from EUR 4,189.6 million in July 2024. Goods valued at EUR 24,485.8 million (21.8% of GDP) were exported in January - July 2025, down by EUR 1,133.7 million (4.4%), year-on-year (from EUR 25,619.5 million, 24.7% of GDP).
 
Imports of goods amounted to EUR 4,331 million in July 2025, up by EUR 21 million (0.5%) from July 2024 (EUR 4,310 million). In January - July 2025, imports of goods were worth EUR 29,000.8 million (25.8% of GDP), growing by EUR 1,171 million (4.2%) from the like period of last year (EUR 27,829.7 million, 26.8% of GDP).

The balance of payments on services was a positive EUR 957.1 million in July 2025, compared with a surplus of EUR 914.7 million in July 2024. In January - July 2025, services showed a surplus of EUR 4,635.9 million (4.1% of GDP), compared with a positive balance of EUR 4,389.2 million (4.2% of GDP) in the same period of 2024.

The country's current and capital account posted a positive balance of EUR 173.7 million in July 2025, compared with a surplus of EUR 605.1 million in July 2024. In January - July 2025, the current and capital account was negative, amounting to EUR 1,811.3 million (1.6% of GDP2), compared with a positive balance of EUR 699.5 million (0.7% of GDP) in January - July 2024.

The capital account recorded a positive balance of EUR 130.6 million, compared with a surplus of EUR 172.5 million in July 2024. In January - July 2025, the capital account showed a positive balance of EUR 566.8 million (0.5% of GDP), compared with a positive balance of EUR 1,132.6 million (1.1% of GDP) in January - July 2024. 

The financial account was in a negative balance of EUR 135.3 million, compared with a positive balance of EUR 603.8 million in July 2024. In January - July 2025, the financial account recorded a net outflow of EUR 2,362.7 million (2.1% of GDP), compared with an inflow of EUR 112.8 million (0.1% of GDP) in January – July 2024.

Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria (under the directional principle) grew by EUR 261.3 million in July 2025 according to preliminary data, compared with an increase of EUR 248.7 million in July 20244. In January - July 2025, foreign direct investment in Bulgaria rose by EUR 1,145.4 million, compared with an increase of EUR 1,192 million in January - July 2024.

Direct investment abroad grew by EUR 66.4 million in July 2025, compared with an increase of EUR 45.9 million in July 2024. In January - July 2025, direct investment abroad rose by EUR 263.9 million, compared with an increase of EUR 672.7 million in January - July 2024.