Final data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI), published today, show that total exports of goods from Bulgaria in 2025 amounted to 84.211 billion levs. This represents a decline of 2.9 percent compared to the exports realized in 2024. At the same time, imports into the country recorded an increase of 6 percent, reaching a total value of 105.491 billion levs. As a result of these trade figures, Bulgaria's foreign trade balance for 2025 remains negative, amounting to 21.281 billion levs.
The statistics reveal details regarding the dynamics of trade flows by month and product sector:
- In exports, the most significant annual growth was registered in the sector "Crude materials, inedible (excluding fuels)" (17.7 percent), while the most substantial decline for the year was observed in the sector "Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials" (28.1 percent).
- The monthly breakdown of exports shows that the largest increase compared to the corresponding months of 2024 was recorded in December (3.2 percent), while the largest decline was observed in the months of April and August (9.6 percent).
- Imports of goods show the highest annual growth in the category "Beverages and tobacco" (22.1 percent), while the most notable decrease was recorded in the sector "Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes" (20.2 percent).
- In the monthly comparison of imports for 2025 and 2024, the highest growth was recorded in December (19.1 percent), and the largest contraction in import volumes was registered in August (2.8 percent).
In trade with European Union member states, there is a negative foreign trade balance of 6.634 billion levs. Exports to EU countries last year amounted to 53.879 billion levs, which is a decrease of 3.8 percent compared to the previous year. The main trading partners in this segment – Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece, France, and Poland – account for 67.9 percent of total exports to the EU. In the export structure, the sector "Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes" recorded the highest growth (43.8 percent), while the largest decline was observed in "Miscellaneous manufactured articles, n.e.s." (14.7 percent).
Imports into Bulgaria from the EU in 2025 increased by 4.4 percent to 60.513 billion levs. The most significant volume of imports comes from Germany, Romania, Greece, Italy, and Poland, which cover 58 percent of this flow. Regarding goods imported from the EU, the highest growth was recorded in the category "Beverages and tobacco" (23.1 percent), while a decline was noted in "Crude materials, inedible (excluding fuels)" (5.1 percent).
Trade with third countries for 2025 also ended with a negative foreign trade balance of 14.646 billion levs. Exports of goods to these countries decreased by 1.2 percent compared to the previous year and amounted to 30.332 billion levs. Leading partners here are Turkey, the United States, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia, China, the United Kingdom, and Algeria, which account for 48.9 percent of exports to third countries. At the same time, imports from these destinations increased by 8.1 percent, reaching a value of 44.978 billion levs. The main suppliers — Turkey, China, Serbia, the United States, and Ukraine — account for 55.9 percent of total imports in this segment.