Bulgaria imported goods worth a total of 24.7 billion leva (12.6 bln euros) in the first six months of the year, the National Statistical Institute said in a report today. This is a hike of 27.9% against H1 last year (19.35 billion leva, 9.8 bln euros).

Exports rose 23.9% to 15.13 billion leva (7.7 bln euros), the foreign trade balance stays negative (at 9.62 billion leva, 4.9 bln euros).

Imports from eight countries top 1 billion leva during the period. Russia tops the chart with 3.4 bln leva, followed by Germany (2.88 bln leva) and Ukraine (2.2 bln leva). Other main importers to Bulgaria are Italy (1.9 bln leva), Romania (1.4 bln leva), Turkey and Greece with 1.3 bln leva each and Austria (1 bln leva).

Largest importers of Bulgarian goods are Turkey (1.6 bln leva) and Greece (1.5 bln leva), as well as Germany and Italy (over 1.3 bln leva). Belgium also imported more than 1 bln leva worth of goods from Bulgaria.

Imports from Georgia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Japan, Egypt, Albania and Romania are rising at a steady pace, as well as our export to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Syria and Georgia.

Bulgaria mostly imports machines, fuels and oils.