Bulgaria's Q1 net FDI inflow plunges 81% y/y

The net FDI inflow in January-March, calculated according to the directional principle, was equivalent to 0.4% of Bulgaria's projected gross domestic product (GDP) for 2024, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) said in a monthly report, citing preliminary data.

Last year, the first-quarter FDI inflow into Bulgaria represented 2.1% of the 2023 GDP.

In March alone, Bulgaria recorded a net FDI inflow of 150.6 million euro, compared to 1.18 billion euro in the same month of 2023.

Austria accounted for the highest net FDI inflow into Bulgaria in the review period, at 122.2 million euro, followed by Italy and Greece, with direct investments of 115.4 million euro and 70 million euro, respectively. By contrast, the highest net outflows were directed to Russia, at 174.2 million euro, and Germany, at 154.3 million euro.

($ = 0.9203 euro)