According to preliminary data of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), the Foreign direct investments in the country for the period January - February 2013 amounted to EUR 40.3 M (0.1% of GDP), down by over 92% on an annual basis.

In the period January - February 2012, the FDI stood at EUR 524.3 M (1.3% of GDP).

The attracted Equity Capital (acquisition/disposal of shares and equities in cash and contributions in kind by non-residents in/from the capital and reserves of Bulgarian enterprises and receipts/payments from/for real estate deals in the country) for January - February 2013 amounted to EUR 50.1 M, down by EUR 77 M compared to the same period of 2012 (EUR 127.1 M).

The receipts from real estate investments of nonresidents amounted to EUR 14.7 M, compared to EUR 33.5 M attracted in January - February 2012.

The other capital, net (the change in the net liabilities of the direct investment enterprise to the direct investor on financial loans, suppliers' credits and debt securities) was negative, amounting to EUR -22.5 M in January - February 2013, compared to a positive other capital, net of EUR 380.2 M in January - February 2012.

Based on preliminary data on profit/loss, the Reinvested Earnings (the share of non-residents in the undistributed earnings/ loss of the enterprise) in January 2013 were estimated at EUR 12.8 M, against EUR 16.9 M in the same period of 2012.

By country, the largest direct investments in Bulgaria in January - February 2013 were those of Greece (EUR 9.4 M), Luxembourg (EUR 7.9 M), Russia (EUR 6.7 M) and Austria (EUR 6.1 M).

According to preliminary data of BNB, in January - February 2013 Direct investment abroad increased by EUR 6.8 M, compared to an increase of EUR 23.8 M in January - February 2012.

The current and capital account recorded a deficit of EUR 352.4 M in February 2013, against a deficit of EUR 348.4 M in February 2012.

For January – February 2013, the current and capital account was negative amounting to EUR 372.6 M (0.9% of GDP2) against a deficit of EUR 598.1 M (1.5% of GDP) in January – February 2012.

The current account recorded a deficit of EUR 356.7 M in February 2013, compared with a negative balance of EUR 353 M in February 2012. The deficit on the current account was due to the negative trade balance (EUR 321.3 M).

In January – February 2013, the current account was negative and amounted to EUR 376.8 M (0.9% of GDP), against a deficit of EUR 606.5 M (1.5% of GDP) in January – February 2012.

The trade balance recorded a deficit of EUR 321.3 M in February 2013, against a deficit of EUR 303.7 M in February 2012.

The trade balance deficit for January – February 2013 amounted to EUR 367.3 M (0.9% of GDP), against a deficit of EUR 582.1 M (1.5 of GDP) in January – February 2012.

Exports (FOB) amounted to EUR 1,656.2 M in February 2013, growing by EUR 192.9 M (13.2%) from February 2012 (EUR 1,463.3 M).

In January – February 2013, exports (FOB) totaled EUR 3,434.4 M, growing by EUR 534.3 M (18.4%) year-on-year (from EUR 2,900.1 M). The exports in January – February 2012 decreased by 5.3% year-on-year.

Imports (FOB) amounted to EUR 1,977.5 M in February 2013 against EUR 1,767 M in February 2012, i.e. growing by EUR 210.5 M (11.9%).

For January – February 2013, imports (FOB) amounted to EUR 3,801.7 M, growing by EUR 319.6 M against January – February 2012 (EUR 3,482.1 M).

On a year-on-year basis, imports increased by 9.2% in January – February 2013 and by 8.9% in January – February 2012.