Bulgarian export to the European Union increased by 23.5 per cent between January and October 2010 compared to the same period of 2009 and amounted to 15,200 million leva, the National Statistical Institute said Monday.

Bulgarian import from the EU between January and October 2010 increased by 7.1 per cent compared to the previous year and amounted to 17,500 million leva at CIF prices.

Bulgaria's main trade partners were Germany, Italy, Romaniaand Greece that formed 61.6 per cent of the total export to the EU Member States.

The export to Italy increased by 39.1 per cent and that to Romania by 33.3 per cent. The most significant growths were registered in the export to Luxembourg, Estonia and Slovenia. The export to Denmark and the Czech Republic increased by 61.4 per cent and 52.6 per cent respectively. The most notable falls were registered in the export to Belgium and Cyprus.

Export to the EU increased by 20.2 per cent in October 2010 compared to the same month of 2009 and reached 1,800 million leva.

For the period between January and October 2010, the most significant growths were registered in the import from Malta, by 275.4 per cent, and Portugal, by 89.5 per cent. The largest decreaseswere observed in the import from Estonia, the Czech Republic and Denmark.

Bulgarian import from the EU Member States increased by 11.4 per cent in October 2010 compared to the same month of 2009 and amounted to 2,100 million leva at CIF prices.

The foreign trade balance of Bulgaria (export FOB - import CIF) with the EU between January and October 2010 was negative and amounted to 2,300 million leva.

More goods were exported from the prevailing part of the sections during the first ten months of 2010 in comparison with the same period of 2009.

The largest growths were registered in the sections "Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)" and "Chemical and related products." A fall was observed only in the export of one section - "Beverages and tobacco."

The largest growths in import from the EU were registered in sections "Crude materials,inedible (except fuel)" and "Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials," and the lowest growth was observed in section "Machinery and transport equipment."

Source: BTA