According to preliminary data, foreign trade with third countries in June’24 resulted in a trade deficit of BGN 0.9bn, compared to a deficit of BGN 0.4bn a year earlier. Imports/CIF (BGN 3.5bn) increased 14.6% YoY, while exports/FOB (BGN 2.5bn) were down by 0.2% YoY. June’24 exports to the EU (BGN 4.7bn) remained unchanged YoY, while imports (BGN 4.4bn) declined 8.7% YoY over the same period. This resulted in a positive trade balance with the EU for the month of BGN 285m, compared to a BGN 123m deficit in the corresponding period of 2023. Total trade balance in June’24 was negative and amounted to BGN 640m (+14.7% YoY), as total exports declined slightly to BGN 7.2bn, while total imports increased marginally to BGN 7.9bn. Total trade balance FOB/CIF for Jan-Jun 2024 came to negative BGN 6.2bn, increasing by 44.3% YoY from negative BGN 4.3bn in the comparable period of 2023. Total exports diminished by 5.6% YoY to BGN 41.4bn while total imports decreased by 1.1% YoY to BGN 47.6bn.