The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Bulgarian global shipments during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Bulgaria.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$3.6 billion (11% of total exports)
2. Copper: $2.9 billion (8.9%)
3. Mineral fuels including oil: $2.8 billion (8.4%)
4. Machinery including computers: $2.7 billion (8.1%)
5. Cereals: $1.2 billion (3.7%)
6. Vehicles: $1 billion (3.2%)
7. Pharmaceuticals: $1 billion (3.1%)
8. Articles of iron or steel: $1 billion (3%)
9. Plastics, plastic articles: $982.6 million (3%)
10. Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $898.3 million (2.7%)

Bulgaria’s top 10 exports accounted for 55.1% of the overall value of its global shipments.

Vehicles was the fastest-growing among the top 10 export categories, up 23.3% in value from 2017 to 2018.

In second place for improving export sales were exported electrical machinery and equipment which rose 14.3%.

Plastics and items made from plastic exported from Bulgaria posted an 18.7% year-over-year gain in value.

At the more granular four-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code, Bulgaria’s most valuable export products are refined petroleum oils (6.5% of total). Following that is refined copper (3.8%), unrefined copper (3.3%), medication mixes in dosage (2.8%), wheat (2.6%), insulated wire or cable (1.8%), electric circuit parts, fuses or switches (1.4%) and exported sunflower seeds (also 1.4%).

The following types of Bulgarian product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.

In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.

1. Copper: US$2.2 billion (Up by 6.8% since 2017)
2. Cereals: $1.1 billion (Up by 25.6%)
3. Arms, ammunition: $615.6 million (Reversing a -$59,000 deficit)
4. Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $591.9 million (Up by 2.9%)
5. Oil seeds: $421.5 million (Down by -7.5%)
6. Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $416.9 million (Up by 8.6%)
7. Furniture, bedding, lighting , signs, prefab buildings: $366.2 million (Up by 14%)
8. Articles of iron or steel: $296.6 million (Up by 8.8%)
9. Glass: $284.4 million (Up by 3.4%)
10. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $238.5 million (Up by 14.2%)

Bulgaria has highly positive net exports in the international trade of copper. In turn, these cashflows indicate Bulgaria’s strong competitive advantages under the copper product category.

Bulgaria incurred an overall trade deficit of -$4.7 billion during 2018, up 8% from -$4.4 billion in red ink one year earlier.

Below are exports from Bulgaria that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Bulgaria’s goods trail Bulgarian importer spending on foreign products.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: -US$2.2 billion (Down by -6.9% since 2017)
2. Vehicles: -$1.8 billion (Up by 16%)
3. Ores, slag, ash: -$1.5 billion (Up by 11.1%)
4. Machinery including computers: -$1.2 billion (Up by 21%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: -$723.3 million (Up by 4%)
6. Iron, steel: -$644.4 million (Up by 15.6%)
7. Pharmaceuticals: -$553 million (Up by 17.2%)
8. Other chemical goods: -$296.5 million (Down by -8.9%)
9. Paper, paper items: -$289.1 million (Up by 17.2%)
10. Organic chemicals: -$239.4 million (Up by 11.5%)

Bulgaria has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for mineral fuels-related goods, notably crude oil, petroleum gas and coal.

Bulgarian Export Companies

Not one Bulgarian corporation ranks among Forbes Global 2000.

Wikipedia lists companies from Bulgaria including international trade players. Selected examples are shown below:

• Armimex (weapons, ammunition)
• Astika Brewery (beer)
• Bulgartabac (cigarettes)
• Chimimport (chemicals)
• Kremikovtzi AD (cast iron, steel)
• LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas (petrochemical products)
• Maxeurope (bicycles, childcare products)
• Navibulgar (shipping company)
• Sofia Mel (bread)
• Vitta Foods (frozen pastry products)