Bulgarian exports to Australia more than double in a decade

Bulgarian-Australian trade has grown steadily over the past decade, with Bulgarian exports to Australia rising by more than 141%, from $25 million in 2015 to $60 million in 2025. The figures were presented by Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Hristo Polendakov at the EU–Australia FTA: What It Means for Bulgarian Business forum in Sofia, BTA reported. Polendakov said the growth was encouraging, but there was still considerable scope to expand bilateral trade.

Bulgarian companies already export pharmaceuticals, machinery, dairy and agricultural products to Australia. Polendakov said there was potential to increase exports of medicines, engines and electrical appliances, medical instruments, machinery, essential oils, sunflower seeds, food products and chemicals.

He said relations between Bulgaria and Australia had never been stronger or more important.

Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, Alison Duncan, told the forum that the EU-Australia free trade agreement was expected to add around €4 billion to the EU’s GDP by 2030, increase EU exports to Australia by about 30% and save European businesses around €1 billion a year in customs duties.

Duncan noted that Australia is the world’s 12th-largest economy, worth around $2.7 trillion, and has one of the highest levels of GDP per capita in the world.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov