Bulgaria’s exports have declined for the third consecutive year, according to recently released data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The country’s companies exported goods worth 83.9 billion leva in 2025, a decrease of 3.2% compared to 2024.
Prior to this, a 0.2% decline was recorded in 2024, following a more significant drop of 6.5% in 2023. Officials have attributed the ongoing decrease, in part, to the impact of the war in Ukraine on global markets.
A concerning trend highlighted by the NSI data is the more pronounced contraction in exports to countries within the European Union, Bulgaria’s primary trading partner. While the data for EU markets is current through November 2025, it shows a 4.6% reduction in Bulgarian exports to the bloc, totaling approximately 50 billion leva. Exports to countries outside the EU experienced a smaller decrease of 2.2%.
Among Bulgaria’s main EU trading partners, Germany and Italy saw the largest declines in Bulgarian exports, both experiencing a 7.5% drop. Exports to France decreased by 4.8%. Greece showed minimal change compared to the previous year, while Romania recorded a 5.3% increase.
Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece and France collectively account for 64.3% of Bulgaria’s exports to EU member states.
Exports from Bulgaria to non-EU countries fell by 2.2% in 2025, reaching 30 billion leva. Value declines were observed in trade with most major partners outside the EU, including the United States, Serbia, North Macedonia, China, and the United Kingdom. Trade with Turkey, which represents the largest share of Bulgarian exports outside the EU at 5.856 billion leva, remained relatively stable. However, a significant increase in Bulgarian exports was recorded for Algeria, exceeding 20% to reach a value of 1.232 billion leva.
The largest decline in exports by product category was registered in fuels, with a 26% decrease in value, including a 13% drop for EU countries. This decline is largely attributed to reduced production and exports from the Burgas refinery, “Lukoil Neftohim.” In the summer of 2025, parliament prohibited the refinery from exporting diesel fuel as a measure against “speculative” price increases ahead of the planned adoption of the euro.
Machinery and equipment continue to represent the largest share of Bulgaria’s exports, with sales abroad totaling 18 billion leva. However, this sector also experienced a slight decrease of 1.6%, including a 2.2% decline for the EU market. Manufacturers and other industries are increasingly finding it difficult to access foreign markets.
Exports of certain agricultural and food products were the only category to display growth, including sunflower seeds and oil, as well as grain.
Despite the overall decline in exports, Bulgaria’s imports increased to 105.6 billion leva in 2025, a 6.1% rise compared to 2024. This resulted in a record trade deficit of 21.7 billion leva. The trend of increasing imports is linked to stimulated domestic consumption driven by administrative wage increases in the public sector, while export-oriented Bulgarian companies face a deteriorating business environment.
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