SOFIA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's exports exceeded 52 billion Bulgarian lev (32.8 billion U.S. dollars) last year, a double increase compared to 2007, a report revealed here on Monday.
According to the report, released by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's imports in 2017 amounted to 59 billion lev, an increase of 38 percent on 2007.
Bulgaria's trade balance has been negative for years, and the deficit in 2017 was nearly seven billion lev, mainly due to the large import of petroleum products and gas, the report said.
"It is encouraging that Bulgaria's trade deficit declined compared to 2007 when it stood at 16 billion lev," the report said.
Exports to European Union (EU) countries made up 66 percent of national exports last year, it said.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria's exports to China grew by 36 percent in 2017 to 1.2 billion lev. Refined copper, copper products, and electrical parts were among the leading products in exports to China, it added. (1 U.S. dollar = 1.59 Bulgarian lev)
