Bulgaria’s trade deficit widened to EUR 678.7 million in August 2026, up from EUR 550.5 million in August 2025. Nonetheless, this was the smallest monthly shortfall since August 2025. Exports increased by 20.68% year-on-year to EUR 4,032.2 million, supported by robust demand from both EU and non-EU markets. Sales to EU countries surged by 25.63%, while exports to non-EU destinations rose by 12.68%.
Imports grew at a slightly faster pace, rising 21.32% to EUR 4,710.9 million. The increase was driven primarily by purchases from non-EU countries, which jumped 36.81%, alongside an 8.97% rise in imports from EU partners. Over the first eight months of 2026, Bulgaria’s cumulative trade deficit expanded to EUR 8,073.7 million, compared with EUR 5,920.4 million in the same period a year earlier.
