site.btaFDI Up by Nearly 21% in September Y/Y - Central Bank

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bulgaria amounted to EUR 2.53 billion as of the end of September this year, according to preliminary data from the Bulgarian National Bank. The amount has increased by 20.9%, or EUR 437.8 million, compared to the same period last year. By comparison, the net inflow of direct investment in the country for January–September 2024 reached EUR 2.09 billion.

In September alone, FDI in Bulgaria amounted to EUR 473 million, compared to a positive flow of EUR 370.2 million in the same month of the previous year.

The size of foreign investments equals 2.3% of the projected GDP, compared to 2% of GDP a year earlier.

The data on the amount of foreign direct investment are preliminary, meaning that the current result may be revised later.

The largest net positive flows of direct investment in the country for January–September 2025 came from the Netherlands (EUR 554.9 million), Italy (EUR 325.2 million), and Greece (EUR 317.1 million), while the largest net negative flows were to the United States (EUR 150.5 million) and Luxembourg (EUR 76.5 million).

The net flow of investment by foreign individuals in real estate was negative at EUR 15.9 million, compared with a negative net flow of EUR 7.1 million for January–September 2024.

Equity capital (cash and in-kind contributions transferred/withdrawn by non-residents into/from the capital and reserves of Bulgarian companies, as well as proceeds/payments from real estate transactions in the country) was positive and amounted to EUR 316.7 million for January–September 2025. This is EUR 296.1 million more than the amount recorded for January–September 2024, which was positive at EUR 20.5 million.

According to preliminary data, profit reinvestment (showing the share of foreign investors in the current profit or loss of a company based on accounting data for the financial result) is positive and amounts to EUR 3.118 billion, compared to a positive value of EUR 2.013 billion for January–September 2024.

The net flow under debt instruments (the change in net liabilities between companies with foreign participation and foreign direct investors through financial, bond, and trade loans) is negative, amounting to EUR 901.3 million, compared to a positive value of EUR 61.9 million for January–September 2024.

Preliminary data indicate that the net flow of FDI abroad for January–September 2025 amounted to EUR 402.4 million (0.4% of GDP), compared to EUR 786.1 million (0.8% of GDP) in the same period of the previous year. In September 2025 alone, the net flow is positive at EUR 48.1 million, compared to a positive value of EUR 95.8 million in September 2024.