Regional and International Trade Agreements and Associations
Bulgaria has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since December 1996. In March 1993, Bulgaria signed the European Agreement of Association with the European Communities and their member states. The country entered into an Agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), enforced in 1993 and in July 1998, and became a member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).

Bulgaria has free trade agreements with Turkey, FYROM, Albania, Israel, Moldova, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.

Imports
The major categories of Bulgaria’s imports are mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment. The lack of significant domestic oil and gas resources contributes to the increase in imports. Based on the National Statistical Institute’s data from November 2007, the main origins of imports of that year so far were The Russian Federation (12.5%), Germany (12.4%), Italy (8.7%), Turkey (6.9%), and Greece (6.2%). The imports from the Russian Federation are mainly energy resources—crude oil and gas.

Exports
The major export categories are ferrous and non-ferrous metals, apparel, minerals and fuels, chemicals, machinery and mechanical appliances, food, beverages, tobacco, and other finished goods. Based on analyses of the Centre for Economic Development, the share of value-added goods in export is increasing. The share of investment goods in export was 15.3% for the ten-month period of 2005 as compared to 13.2% for the corresponding period of 2004, which represents a nominal increase of 37% year-on-year. As of November 2007, Bulgaria’s main export destinations were Turkey (11.5%), Germany 910.5%), Italy (10.3%), Greece (8.9%), Belgium (6.3%), and Romania (4.8%).