Jan-August exports up 8% YoY; imports up 3.1% YoY

The exports to third countries for Jan-August’15 were up 5.3% YoY to BGN 11bn, while the imports were down with 2.8% YoY to BGN 12.5bn. At the same time, the exports to the EU grew with 9.7% YoY to BGN 19.2bn while the imports increased with 6.9% YoY to BGN 21.6bn. Hence, the total Jan-Aug exports (including to the EU) increased with 8% on an annual basis reaching BGN 30.3bn, while the total imports increased by 3.1% YoY to BGN 34bn. This led to a Jan-Aug’15 trade deficit of BGN 3.8bn from a BGN 5bn deficit for the corresponding year-ago period.