In the January - October 2010 period, Bulgarian exports to third countries (non-EU members) increased by 47 per cent compared to the same period of 2009 and amounted to 9,600 million leva, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on Friday.

Bulgaria's principal trading partners were Turkey, Serbia, Russia, Macedonia, Singapore, the US and China, which accounted for 53.8 per cent of the total exports to non EU countries.

The goods exported to China increased by 212 per cent, and those to Turkey by 64.2 per cent. Exports to Serbia and Russia grew by 58.3 per cent and 51.9 per cent, respectively, to Macedonia by 33.4 per cent, and to the US by 6.6 per cent. Exports to Peru, South Korea, India, Brazil and Vietnam increased significantly. Exports to United Arab Emirates, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Indonesia and Albania declined.

At 1,000 million leva-plus, October 2010 exports to third countries increased by 22.7 per cent from the same month a year ago.

Bulgarian imports from third countries in January-October 2010 increased by 1.7 per cent from the same period of 2009 and amounted to 12,400 million eva. Imports from Israel, Albania and Egypt grew by the largest margin. Imports from Serbia increased by 46.5 per cent and from Bosnia and Herzegovina by 45.2 per cent. Imports from Kazakhstan, South Africa and Norway showed the largest declines.

In October 2010, Bulgarian imports from third countries increased by 12.5 per cent from the like month a year ago and amounted to 1,400 million leva.

Bulgaria ran a 2,700 million leva deficit (export FOB - import CIF) in its trade with third countries in the January - October 2010 period. In October 2010 alone, this deficit amounted to 326.9 million leva.

The goods exported from Bulgaria to third countries and EU members combined in the January - October 2010 period were valued at 24,800 million leva, up 31.6 per cent, year on year.

In October 2010 the combined exports amounted to 2,800 million leva, an increase of 20.9 per cent from October 2009.

The combined imported goods in January - October 2010 were worth 29,900 million leva (at CIF prices) or 8.9 per cent more than in the same period a year ago.

In October 2010 the combined imports increased by 11.3 per cent from the same month of 2009, reaching 3,400 million leva.

The combined foreign trade balance (exports FOB - import CIF) was negative in the January - October 2010 period and amounted to 5,000 million leva, which was over 3,500 million leva less than the balance in January - October 2009. At FOB/FOB prices (after elimination of freight and insurance costs of imports), the deficit in the January - October 2010 period amounted to 3,200 million leva.

In October 2010 the combined foreign trade balance (exports FOB - import CIF) was negative and amounted to 575 million leva, while at FOB/FOB prices the balance was also negative and reached 373.2 million leva.

Source: BTA