According to preliminary figures of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) released on Monday, Bulgaria's trade with third countries decreased in the first five months of this year.
Between January and May 2016, Bulgarian exports to third countries exceeded BGN 5.7 B, recording a decrease of 15.4 % compared to the same period last year.
The main trading partners of Bulgaria were Turkey, China, Macedonia, Serbia, the USA and Russia, which together accounted for 50.7 % of Bulgarian exports to third countries.
In May alone, Bulgarian exports exceeded BGN 1.1 B, registering a drop of 21.3 % compared to the same month in 2015.
Compared with the first five months of last year, the greatest increase was registered in the export of various ready-made products, while the largest drop was recorded in the export of soft and alcohol beverages and tobacco.
Between January and May, Bulgarian imports from third countries exceeded BGN 6.4 B, which represented a decrease of 17.4 % compared to the same period in 2015.
The greatest volume of goods was imported from Russia, Turkey, China and Ukraine.
In May, Bulgarian imports from third countries exceeded BGN 1.4 B, dropping by 9.4 % compared to the same month last year.
Compared with the same period last year, the greatest increase was registered in the imports of various ready-made products as well as fats, oils and waxes of animal and plant origin, while the largest drop was recorded in the import of unprocessed (raw) materials unsuitable for consumption (excluding fuels).
In the first five months of this year, Bulgaria's balance of trade with third countries was negative and amounted to BGN 664.6 M.
In May, the balance of trade was also negative and stood at BGN 335 M.
When the figures for trade with the EU are added, Bulgaria's overall balance of trade exceeded negative BGN 1.8 B in the first five months of this year.
In May, the overall balance of trade was also negative and amounted to BGN 541.7 M.
Between January and May, total Bulgarian exports exceeded BGN 17.7 B, which represented a decrease of 3.5 % compared to the same month last year.
In May, total Bulgarian exports exceeded BGN 3.5 B, dropping by 5.4 % compared to the same month in 2015.
In the first five months of this year, total Bulgarian imports exceeded BGN 19.5 B, which represented a decrease of 7 % compared to the same period last year.
In May, total Bulgarian imports exceeded BGN 4 B, registering a drop of 3.2 % compared to the same month in 2015.
