Bulgaria ran a deficit of BGN 2.0 B in trade with third countries last year, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) announced on Tuesday.

In December 2015, the balance of trade with third countries showed a deficit of BGN 23.2 M, the NSI said citing preliminary data.

Bulgaria’s exports FOB to third countries increased by 0.6% last year compared to 2014, reaching BGN 16.4 B (EUR 8.2 B).

The country’s main export destinations outside the EU were Turkey, China, Serbia, Russia, Macedonia, USA and Egypt. Those countries absorbed nearly 54 % of Bulgaria’s exports to non-EU countries last year.

In December 2015, Bulgarian exports FOB to third countries increased by 3.2% year-on-year, reaching BGN 1.41 B.

Bulgaria’s imports CIF from third countries decreased by 5.9% year-on-year in 2015, reaching BGN 18.4 B. Russia, a key energy supplier to Bulgaria, led the list of non-EU exporters to Bulgaria, followed by Turkey, China and Ukraine.

In December 2015, Bulgarian imports from third countries decreased by 8.0% on the year, amounting to BGN 1.44 B.

Bulgaria’s overall foreign trade deficit (exports FOB - imports CIF) decreased by 1.69 B last year, reaching BGN 6.18 B, as exports rose faster than imports, NSI data showed.

Exports totalled BGN 45.5 B last year, an increase of 5.2%. Imports rose by 1.1% to BGN 51.7 B.