Bulgarian exports fall because of the war in Ukraine and decline in EU markets

Bulgaria's exports have been declining for the third year in a row. The National Statistical Institute has published data for 2025, which show that Bulgarian companies exported goods worth 42.9 billion euros, which is 3.2% less in comparison to 2024. In 2024, the decline was 0.2%, while in 2023 it was 6.5%.

The main reason is the contraction of EU markets caused by the war in Ukraine. Looking at the country's main trading partners in the EU, exports to Germany and Italy fell the most - by 7.5%. In export to France, the decline was 4.8%. The other major European markets for Bulgaria are Greece, where there is almost no difference compared to the previous year, and Romania with a growth of 5.3%. Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece and France account for 64.3% of exports to EU member states. Regarding non-EU countries, exports from Bulgaria shrank by 2.2% in 2025 to 15.34 billion euros.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov