site.btaBulgaria’s Trade Deficit Widens to EUR 782.6 Mln in May

Bulgaria’s trade deficit widened to EUR 782.6 million in May 2026 from EUR 419.2 million in May 2025, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) said on Friday. The January-May deficit stood at EUR 4.5653 billion, or 3.7% of GDP, compared with EUR 3.317 billion, or 2.9% of GDP, in the same period of 2025.

The data showed goods exports totalled EUR 3.7366 billion in May, up EUR 321.9 million, or 9.4%, from EUR 3.4147 billion in May 2025. In January-May, exports reached EUR 18.6025 billion, or 14.9% of GDP, up EUR 1.3233 billion, or 7.7%, from EUR 17.2791 billion, also 14.9% of GDP, in the same period of 2025.

Goods imports totalled EUR 4.5191 billion in May, up EUR 685.3 million, or 17.9%, from EUR 3.8338 billion in May 2025. In January-May, imports reached EUR 23.1678 billion, or 18.6% of GDP, up EUR 2.5717 billion, or 12.5%, from EUR 20.5961 billion, or 17.8% of GDP, in the same period of 2025.

The services balance posted a surplus of EUR 556.9 million, compared with EUR 634.1 million in May 2025. In January-May, the services surplus stood at EUR 2.503 billion, or 2% of GDP, compared with EUR 2.939 billion, or 2.5% of GDP, in the same period of 2025.

The country’s combined current and capital account posted a deficit of EUR 481.2 million, compared with EUR 23.2 million in May 2025. In January-May, the deficit stood at EUR 3.5009 billion, or 2.8% of projected GDP, compared with EUR 1.4636 billion, or 1.3% of GDP, in the same period of 2025.

The financial account showed a negative balance of EUR 1.0631 billion in May, compared with EUR 289.9 million in May 2025. In January-May, the negative balance stood at EUR 4.4551 billion, or 3.6% of GDP, compared with EUR 1.2244 billion, or 1.1% of GDP, in the same period of 2025.

Between January and May 2026, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bulgaria amounted to EUR 2.28 billion. The net inflow of FDI was EUR 1.74 billion higher than in the same period last year, when it stood at EUR 535.3 million, more than four times lower than the current figure.

The net flow of Bulgarian direct investment abroad in the January-May 2026 period was positive, amounting to EUR 3.2 million (0.003% of GDP), compared with a positive balance of EUR 54.1 million (0.05% of GDP) in the same period of the previous year. In May 2026, the net flow also remained positive at EUR 6 million, compared with a positive EUR 8.4 million in May 2025.