In January 2021 the export of goods from Bulgaria to third countries has gone down by 22.6 % compared to the same month of 2020, and stands at 700 million euro, BTA reports citing a study by the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

According to NSI data Bulgaria’s principal trading partners are Turkey, China, USA, Serbia, the UK, the Republic of North Macedonia and the Russian Federation, and they form 57.3% of its exports to third countries. The only sector in which an increase has been registered in the export of goods in January is food and live animals (12.8 %).

On the other hand the import of goods into Bulgaria from third countries in January 2021 declined by 15% compared to the same month of 2020, and stands at 900 million euro. Imports are biggest from Turkey, China, the Russian Federation, Peru, Serbia and Ukraine. With these countries an increase has been registered in only one sector – animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes. Bulgaria’s external balance with third countries in January 2021 is negative, amounting to around 250 million euro.