Bulgaria’s exports have been increasing, according to the National Statistical Institute, which said that there had been a 33.8 per cent increase year-on-year in exports to other European Union member states in the first nine months of 2011.

Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece and Belgium account for 66.7 per cent of exports by Bulgarian companies.

Exports to non-EU countries also have increased, by 26.5 per cent in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010, according to the National Statistical Institute.

About 53 per cent of Bulgarian exports go to Russia, Ukraine, China and the United States.

Some figures rose extremely sharply, albeit off a relatively low base: South Africa’s imports from Bulgaria increased by 909 per cent from January to November 2011, to 129 million leva (about 64.5 million euro).

To the end of November 2011, Bulgaria’s foreign trade deficit was 2.82 million leva, a decrease of about 40 per cent year-on-year.

November’s exports alone were 3.39 billion leva, about 19 per cent higher than in November 2010.