March 12 (BTA) - In 2020, exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 4.1 per cent compared to 2019 and amounted to 35,836.5 million leva, according to the National Statistical Institute (NSI). Bulgaria's main trade partners are Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece, France and Belgium, which account for 70.2 per cent of exports to EU member states.

In December 2020 the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 10.3 per cent compared to the same month of the previous year and amounted to 2,705.2 million leva.

In 2020, the largest increase in exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU was registered in the sectors of "Animal and Vegetable Fats, Oils and Waxes" (32.3 per cent) and "Soft and Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco" (23.0 per cent). The largest decrease was in the sector of ''Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products of Their Distillation" (42.7 per cent).

Imports of goods to Bulgaria from the EU in 2020 decreased on an annual basis by 9.2 per cent and amounted to 36,555.6 million leva. Imports from Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands had the largest value.

In December 2020, the import of goods to Bulgaria from the EU member states increased by 1.3 per cent compared to the same month of the previous year and amounted to 3184.2 million leva.

Trade with third countries

In January 2021, the export of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 22.6 per cent compared to the same month of 2020 and amounted to 1,378 million leva, the NSI reported.

Bulgaria's main trading partners are Turkey, China, the United States, Serbia, the United Kingdom, North Macedonia and the Russian Federation, which account for 57.3 per cent of exports to third countries.

In January 2021, the export of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased on an annual basis only in the Food and Live Animals sector (12.8 per cent). It is highest in the sectors "Animal and Vegetable Fats, Oils and Waxes" (88.1 per cent) and "Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products of Their Distillation" (69.0 per cent).

Imports from third countries to Bulgaria in January 2021 decreased by 15 per cent from this time last year and amounted to 1,872.1 million leva. The largest value is registered for goods imported from Turkey, China, Russia, Peru, Serbia and Ukraine.

The largest increase in imports from third countries compared to January 2020 was reported in the sectors of "Animal and Vegetable Fats, Oils and. Waxes" (22.1 per cent) and "Unprocessed (Raw) Materials, Unfit for Consumption (excluding fuels)" (3.6 percent). The largest decline was observed in the sector of "Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products of Their Distillation" (54.3 per cent).

Bulgaria's foreign trade with third countries showed a deficit of 494.1 million leva in January 2021. RY/DT





//