Statistical data

Тhe exported goods amounted to 92 917.8 million BGN or 35.8% more than in 2021. The imported goods were for 107 912.8 million BGN, which is 40.6% more than the previous year.

The largest growth in the exports of goods compared to 2021 was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (159.1%). Fall was not observed in any of the sections. The largest growth in the imports of goods was registered in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (222.1%) and again fall was not observed in any of the sections. Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

In the period January - June 2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 5.4% compared to the same period of 2022 and amounted to 28 367.0 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 1.0% and reached 29 281.2 million BGN.

In June 2023, the exports to the EU decreased by 13.3% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 4 729.6 million BGN, while the imports fell by 13.0% and added up to 4 834.4 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU in the period January - June 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (16.7%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (71.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (20.7%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (65.5%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 4.6% compared to the period January - July 2022 and amounted to 17 592.7 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 20.0% and added up to 22 011.8 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - July 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (29.0%) and ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (21.3%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (38.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Food and live animals’ (18.1%) and ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (16.6%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (39.8%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 50 746.8 million BGN in the period January - July 2023, which is 5.5% less than the same period of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 56 020.4 million BGN and dropped by 8.9%.

In July 2023, 3 697 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with 10 or more bed-places, functioned in the country with 149.5 thousand rooms and 339.3 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with July 2022, the accommodation establishments increased by 2.3% and the bed-places in them - by 3.5%.

The total number of nights spent was 5 819.6 thousand, or by 8.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 9.0% and reached 1 441.3 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 454.5 million BGN, or by 17.6% more compared to a year before.

The Industrial Production Index decreased by 1.3% in July 2023 compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A drop was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 8.4%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 8.1%, while the production increase in the manufacturing - by 0.9%.

In July 2023, a decrease of 11.5% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index in comparison with the same month in 2022.

Compared to July 2022, a drop was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 42.6%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 23.5%, and in the manufacturing - by 3.1%.

In July 2023, the index of production in the ‘Construction’ section was unchanged compared to the previous month. The production of civil engineering fell by 0.1% and the production of building construction remained unchanged. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

The calendar-adjusted data showed a decrease of 1.8% in construction production compared to the same month of 2022. A decrease was registered both in civil engineering - by 3.8%, and in building construction - by 0.2%.

In July 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices kept the level of the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

The turnover was noted a decrease in all major groups: in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 4.6%, in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 0.9% and in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 0.3%. 

The calendar-adjusted turnover went up by 1.6% compared to the same month in 2022.

An increase was observed in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (8.7%), while in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ and in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’, a decrease was registered - by 1.9% and by 0.6%, respectively.

For the period August 7th - September 3rd 2023, dead persons in Bulgaria are 6 762 and they are 1 211 less than during the same period in 2022. The data on deaths in Bulgaria for a period (32nd - 35th week) and by week are available on the website of the National Statistical Institute at the following links:

Mortality | Infostat (infostat.nsi.bg)

Deaths in Bulgaria by weeks | National statistical institute (nsi.bg)

In the second quarter of 2023 GDP per person employed increased in real terms by 1.7% compared to the second quarter of 2022, аccording to the preliminary data.

In the second quarter of 2023, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.9% and Gross Value Added (GVA) by 2.2% compared to the second quarter of 2022 (data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted).

The increase in Gross Value Added is determined by the growth in the following economic activities:

Construction - 5.8%, Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activities - 4.6%, Professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities - 4.4%, Agriculture, forestry and fishing - 4.2%, Information and communication - 3.1%, Public administration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities - 1.9%, Financial and insurance activities - 1.8%, Arts, entertainment and recreation, repair of household goods and other services - 1.0% and Real estate activities - 0.9%.

A decline with 1.0% was registered in Mining and quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply, waste management and remediation activities.

Regarding the expenditure components of GDP, contributors to the registered positive economic growth are the Final consumption, with a growth of 4.0% and gross fixed capital formation increased by 7.3%.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, in the second quarter of 2023, exports of goods and services decreased by 0.9%, and the imports of goods and services dropped by 6.9% compared to the second quarter of 2022.