In the first five months of 2026, Bulgaria witnessed a continued expansion in its export activities, as total exports amounted to €18.8 billion. This figure marks a 7.4% rise compared to the same timeframe in the previous year, based on preliminary official statistics. While exports showed a positive trend, imports surged at an even faster rate, climbing 12.8% year-on-year to reach €24.2 billion during the January to May period.
Focusing on the month of May alone, the export figures saw a 7.8% increase, totaling €3.72 billion. On the other hand, imports for the same month experienced a substantial jump of 17.4%, culminating in €4.68 billion. This robust growth in imports contributed to a larger trade deficit for Bulgaria.
As a consequence of these developments, Bulgaria recorded a trade deficit of €5.4 billion in the first five months of the year 2026. This deficit underscores the discrepancy between the faster-growing imports and the relatively slower export growth.
Specifically, the trade balance for May also mirrored this negative trend, with a deficit recorded at €957.9 million. The data highlights the ongoing challenge of managing the trade balance in light of stronger import growth outpacing the gains in exports.