site.btaBulgarian Export Increases 34% in January - March, Import 41.4%

The Bulgarian export in January - March 2022 totalled BGN 20,962 million, which was 34% more than this time last year, according to preliminary data by the National Statistical Institute released Thursday. In March alone, the export was worth BGN BGN 8,086.5 million, increasing by 38.9% from March 2021.

In the first quarter of 2022, Bulgaria imported goods worth BGN 24,281.7 million (at CIF prices) and that was 41.4% more than the first quarter of 2021. In March alone, the total import of goods grew by 33.7% from this month last year, reaching BGN 8,942.6 million.

Bulgaria's foreign trade balance for the first quarter of 2022 showed a deficit of BGN 3,319.5 million. In March alone, the deficit stood at BGN 856.1 million. 

Trade with Third Countries

In January - March 2022, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 28.3% from the same quarter of 2021 and amounted to BGN 6,761.7 million. The import of goods from third countries grew by 58% and stood at BGN 10,447 million.

The biggest importers were the Russian Federation, Turkey, China and Ukraine.

In March 2022, the import from third countries grew by 35.8% from this time last year, reaching a value of BGN 3,654.3 million.

Bulgaria's trade with third countries showed a deficit of BGN 3,685.3 million in the first quarter and  BGN 1,169.8 million in March.

Trade with EU

The export of goods from Bulgaria to the EU in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 29.7% from the same period of 2021 and amounted to BGN 8,598.5 million, while imports from the EU grew by 30.2% to BGN 8,546.4 million.

In February 2022, Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 32% from the same time last year and amounted to BGN 4,381.5 million. Imports grew by 28% to a value of BGN 4,397.3 million.

The first-quarter trade with the EU countries showed a surplus of BGN 52.1 million.