In January - July 2010 Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 20.2 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 10,000 million leva, the National Statistical Institute said Monday.

Bulgarian imports from EU for January - July 2010 increased by 3.7 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 11,800 million leva.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with EU for January - July 2010 was negative and amounted to 1,800 million leva, while in July it was positive and amounted to 91.3 million leva.

The main trade partners of Bulgaria were Italy, Germany, Greece and Romania which formed over 61.7 per cent of the total exports to EU member states. Exports to Italy increased by 33.1 per cent and those to Germany - by 22.9 per cent. The most notable growth was observed in the exports to Luxembourg, Estonia and Slovenia. Exports to Denmark and the Czech Republic grew by 59.9 per cent and 52.3 per cent respectively. The most notable drop was registered in the exports to Cyprus and Portugal.

In July 2010 the exports to EU increased by 33.4 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and reached 1,900 million leva.

The most notable growth was registered in the imports from Portugal (by 98.9 per cent). Imports from Romania, Malta and Lithuania increased by over 44 per cent. The largest decrease was observed in the imports from Estonia, Sweden and Denmark.

In July 2010 Bulgarian imports from EU Member States increased by 8.7 per cent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 1,800 million leva.

Bulgarian exports to the EU distributed according to the Standard International Trade Classification showed that in the first seven months of 2010 more goods were exported from the prevailing part of the sections compared to the corresponding period of 2009. The largest growth was registered in the sections "Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)", and "Machinery and transport equipment". A drop was observed only in exports of one section - "Beverages and Tobacco".

On imports from EU the largest growth was reported in the sections of "Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)" and "Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials" and the lowest in the section of "Machinery and transport equipment".

Source: BTA