Bulgaria’s external accounts deteriorated in April 2026, with the current account deficit widening significantly, according to preliminary data from the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB).
The central bank reports that the current account deficit reached €1.2093 billion in April, compared with a smaller negative balance recorded a year earlier. Over the January–April period, the deficit also deepened, reaching €3.6152 billion, equivalent to around 2.9% of GDP, up from €1.8252 billion in the same period of 2025.
The broader combined current and capital account also remained negative, standing at €1.1231 billion in April 2026 versus a €851.7 million deficit a year earlier. For the first four months of the year, the combined balance showed a shortfall of €3.0042 billion, or 2.4% of GDP, compared with €1.4404 billion in the corresponding 2025 period.
Trade dynamics were a key driver of the worsening position. In April alone, the trade deficit widened to €1.0841 billion from €817.4 million a year earlier. Imports increased sharply, rising by €811.8 million to €5.0501 billion, while exports also grew, but at a slower pace of €545.1 million, reaching €3.966 billion.
For the January–April 2026 period, the trade gap expanded further to €3.7599 billion, compared with €2.8978 billion a year earlier. Exports increased by 7.7% to €14.9361 billion, while imports rose more strongly by 11.5% to €18.6959 billion, continuing to widen the imbalance.
