Bulgaria’s Jan-April current account swings into surplus as exports surge

By bne IntelliNews June 17, 2015

Bulgaria's current account balance reported a surplus of €163.8mn in January-April, reversing a deficit of €436mn in the same period last year, mainly on the back of surging exports that helped narrow the trade gap, preliminary central bank data showed. The four-month surplus is equal to 0.4% of GDP.

The merchandise trade deficit shrank 34.1% y/y to €911.1mn in the first four months of the year as exports jumped 15% y/y to €7.19bn and imports grew 6.1% y/y to €8.1bn. The services surplus climbed 23.2% y/y to €478.3mn. At the same time, the secondary income surplus edged up 2.6% y/y to €877.9mn and the primary income deficit narrowed 5.1% y/y to €281.3mn.

In April alone, the current account gap was €99.1mn versus a shortfall of €289.1mn a year earlier.

In its latest World Economic Outlook report from April, the International Monetary Fund projected a current account surplus of 0.2% of GDP for 2015, reversing into a 0.8% deficit in 2016. The European Commission expects a surplus of 1.3% of GDP this year, edging down to 1.2% of GDP next year.

Current Account, €mn        
  2014   2015  
  Apr Jan-Apr Apr Jan-Apr
Current Account -289 -436 -99 164
- Credit 2,400 9,394 2,654 10,488
- Debit 2,689 9,830 2,753 10,324
Goods and Services -278 -995 -146 -433
- Credit 2,149 8,006 2,345 9,002
- Debit 2,427 9,001 2,492 9,435
Goods -360 -1,383 -223 -911
- Credit 1,683 6,253 1,992 7,191
- Debit 2,043 7,636 2,214 8,102
Services 82 388 76 478
- Credit 466 1,753 353 1,812
- Debit 384 1,365 277 1,333
Primary Income -137 -297 -100 -281
Secondary Income 126 855 147 878
Source: Central bank        
Read in IntelliNews Pro
Get IntelliNews Pro

Related Articles

Uzbekistan’s key rate held at 14% as central bank points to fears over reacceleration of inflation

Uzbekistan's central bank on April 25 kept its benchmark interest rate on hold at 14%, pointing to risks that inflation could once more accelerate. Planned hikes of state-regulated prices for ... more

Ukraine's DTEK seeks $350mn to restore energy capacity after Russian attacks

Ukraine's leading private energy company, DTEK, has sounded the alarm, indicating an urgent need for $350mn to recuperate lost capacity resulting from Russia's relentless assaults on thermal power ... more

Kazakhstan can expect GDP growth of 3.1% this year and 5.6% next, says IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects real GDP growth of 3.1% this year and 5.6% in 2025 for Kazakhstan in its newly released ... more

Follow Us On

Most Read

  1. Ukraine's birth rate plummets to 300-year low as country’s population collapses
    8 days ago
  2. EU finally boosts defence investment into arms production as Ukraine runs out of ammo
    1 month ago
  3. Fresh evidence suggests that the April 2022 Istanbul peace deal to end the war in Ukraine was stillborn
    8 days ago
  4. Don't mention the "D" word - Ukraine
    5 days ago
  5. Europe unlikely to tackle Russian LNG imports anytime soon
    2 days ago
  1. Russia could pay off its entire external debt tomorrow, in cash
    26 days ago
  2. Speculation swirls of “Men in Blue” in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack linked to FSB
    30 days ago
  3. Albanians campaign on social media to keep bus bridge created in freak accident
    1 year ago
  4. BRICS announce a blockchain-based payment system to create a common currency
    28 days ago
  5. Saudi Arabia to scale back plans for Neom city
    15 days ago

Reports

Dismiss