BULGARIAN EXPORTS TO 3RD COUNTRIES 2.5 DOWN IN JANUARY 2015 Y/Y

In January 2015 Bulgarian exports to third countries decreased by 2.5% compared to the corresponding month of 2014 and amounted BGN to 1.1 billion. Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Turkey, China, Singapore, Serbia, USA and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which accounted for 54.9% of the exports to non EU countries, a report of Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute (NSI) showed.

Bulgarian imports from third countries in January 2015 decreased by 9.9% compared to the corresponding month of 2014 and added up to BGN 1.5 billion BGN (at CIF prices). The largest amounts were reported for the goods imported from the Russian Federation, Turkey, China and Ukraine.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with third countries in January 2015 was negative and added up to BGN 364.6 million. The trade balance at FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) was also negative and amounted to BGN 296.5 million.

In January 2015 compared to the corresponding month of 2014 in the exports of Bulgaria to third countries distributed according to the Standard International Trade Classification the largest growths were recorded in the section ‘Animals and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (45.5%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (36.2%). The most notable fall was reported in section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (20.9%).

In imports from third countries the largest growths were reported in sections ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuels)’ (72.5%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (64.8%) while the most notable fall was observed in section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (61.8%).

Bulgarian trade with third countries and EU – total

In January 2015 the value of all exported goods from Bulgaria amounted to BGN 3.4 billion and compared to the corresponding month of 2014 the exports increased by 8.9%.

The total value of all the goods imported in the country in January 2015 amounted to BGN 3.8 billion (at CIF prices), or by 4.2% less than the corresponding month of 2014.

The total foreign trade balance (exports FOB - import CIF) was negative in January 2015 and amounted to BGN 420.5 million, which was BGN 439.0 million less than the balance in 2014. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of transport and insurance costs on imports) in January 2015 the total foreign trade balance was also negative and amounted to BGN 235.9 million.