SOFIA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's trade with the EU countries reported a tangible increase in the first quarter of the year (Q1), statistics by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) showed on Monday.
During the first three months of 2018, Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 13.1 percent from the same period last year, amounting to 8,960.7 million leva (about 5,500 million U.S. dollars).
The main trade partners were Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece, France and Belgium, accounting for 68.6 percent of the exports to the EU, the NSI statistics said.
The largest growth in Bulgarian exports was seen in the following commodity groups: food and live animals with 42.9 percent, and crude materials, inedible (except fuels), 25.7 percent.
Bulgarian imports from the EU during the period increased year on year by 11.4 percent, totalling 9,803.5 million leva at CIF prices.
During the period, the largest growth in imports from the EU was reported in crude materials, inedible (except fuels), with 36.4 percent.
