Bulgaria flag Bulgaria: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Bulgaria

Foreign Trade in Figures

Since joining the European Union, Bulgaria has experienced considerable growth in trade, despite a large trade imbalance and recurring deficits. The country is very open to foreign trade, which represents 138% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). Bulgaria mainly exports manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (21.5%), machinery and transport equipment (20.6%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (13.6%), chemical and related products (11.8%), mineral fuel, lubricants, and related materials (11.5%); while imports are led by machinery and transport equipment (26.5%), mineral fuel, lubricants, and related materials (16.8%), manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (16.0%), chemical and related products (14.1%), crude materials, inedible (except fuel, 8.9% - data INS).

Bulgaria’s main export destinations in 2022 were Germany (14.1%), Romania (10.2%), Italy (7.5%), Greece (6.5%), and Turkey (6%); whereas imports came chiefly from Russia (12.2%), Germany, and Turkey (10.8% each), Romania (8.4%), Italy (6.8%), and Greece (6%). Overall, the EU accounted for 65.2% and 55.2% of total exports and imports, respectively (data INS).

According to the latest figures from WTO, in 2022 exports of goods rose by 22%, at USD 50.2 billion, with imports increasing at a faster pace (+25.6%), totaling USD 58 billion. The country has a structural trade deficit; however, it is a net service exporter: it exported USD 12.5 billion worth of services, importing only USD 6.9 billion in 2022. Preliminary data by the National Statistical Institute show that in 2023, exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries saw a decline of 2.9%, totaling BGN 31.38 billion. Meanwhile, imports of goods plummeted by 19.7%, reaching a total of BGN 38.76 billion.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 37,66335,05646,21057,95953,551
Exports of Goods (million USD) 33,34031,95441,15749,92547,854
Imports of Services (million USD) 5,9814,7765,9517,3177,871
Exports of Services (million USD) 11,4608,37610,89912,77815,043

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 128.9124.6110.3121.0136.3
Trade Balance (million USD) -3,201-3,256-2,256-3,379-5,098
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) 1,6122,1991,3441,443459
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 5.85.2-4.310.910.5
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 1.74.0-10.411.08.3
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 63.260.754.259.667.7
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 65.763.956.161.368.5

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 3.33.53.73.43.1
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 2.04.46.52.63.0

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Bulgaria is member of : the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, etc.

For further information, please consult the website of the Ministry of Economy of Bulgaria.

 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
Germany 13.7%
Romania 9.2%
Italy 7.2%
Türkiye 5.8%
Greece 5.5%
See More Countries 58.7%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
Germany 12.4%
Türkiye 8.2%
Romania 6.8%
Italy 6.7%
China 5.4%
See More Countries 60.5%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

47.9 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 5.6%
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin 3.5%
Copper, refined, and copper alloys, unwrought ...Copper, refined, and copper alloys, unwrought (excl. copper alloys of heading 7405) 3.4%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 2.6%
Copper, unrefined; copper anodes for electrolytic...Copper, unrefined; copper anodes for electrolytic refining 2.0%
See More Products 83.0%
53.5 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 5.9%
Copper ores and concentratesCopper ores and concentrates 3.6%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.3%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 3.1%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 1.9%
See More Products 82.2%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: November 2024