SOFIA (Bulgaria), September 15 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria's current account surplus rose to 528.2 million euro ($682.8 million) in the January-July period from 398.9 million euro a year earlier, the central bank said on Monday.
Foreign direct investments (FDI) in Bulgaria decreased to 825.3 million euro in the seven months through July, equivalent to 2.0% of the projected gross domestic product (GDP), from some 1.071 billion euro, or 2.7% of GDP, a year earlier, the Bulgarian National Bank said in a statement.
The seven-month current account surplus was equivalent to 1.3% of the country's GDP projected for 2014, compared to 1.0% of GDP a year earlier, the central bank added.
Bulgaria's trade balance showed a deficit of 1.684 billion euro in the period under review, equivalent to 4.2% of the projected GDP. A year earlier, the country had a trade shortfall of 1.507 billion euro, equivalent to 3.8% of GDP.
Exports decreased 2.8% on the year to 12.329 billion euro through July, while imports fell by 1.3% to 14.013 billion euro.
Details follow (in millions of euro):
BALANCE OF PAYMENTS |
Jan-July'14 |
Jan-July'13 |
CURRENT ACCOUNT |
528.2 |
398.9 |
-Trade balance |
-1,684 |
-1,507 |
-Balance of services |
1,302 |
1,199 |
-Income balance |
-499.6 |
-886.5 |
-Net current transfers |
1,410.4 |
1,593.9 |
CAPITAL ACCOUNT |
179.5 |
417 |
FINANCIAL ACCOUNT |
889.6 |
-912.4 |
Foreign direct investments in Bulgaria |
825.3 |
1,070.8 |
TOTAL BALANCE |
571.2 |
-267.4 |
($=0.7736 euro)