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North Macedonia-Bulgaria Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.07B total volume •North Macedonia deficit: $228.85M

North MacedoniaBulgaria

$418.95M

Exports (2023)

BulgariaNorth Macedonia

$647.80M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$228.85M

Deficit for North Macedonia

Total Trade

$1.07B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Green line shows exports from North Macedonia, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the North Macedonia-Bulgaria commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

North MacedoniaBulgaria Exports

$418.95M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
16.3% top product
1Copper ores and concentrates
$68.27M
16.3% of exports
2Lead ores and concentrates
$53.08M
12.7% of exports
3Zinc ores and concentrates
$34.40M
8.2% of exports
4Electrical energy
$29.03M
6.9% of exports
5Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, (not corrugated), plated or coated with zinc (not electrolytically)
$14.48M
3.5% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

North Macedonia's export portfolio to Bulgaria demonstrates strategic specialization, with copper ores and concentrates representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

BulgariaNorth Macedonia Imports

$647.80M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
20.5% concentration
1Electrical energy
$133.04M
20.5% of imports
2Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils
$64.89M
10.0% of imports
3Ferrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204
$62.37M
9.6% of imports
4Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: in gaseous state, natural gas
$26.53M
4.1% of imports
5Games: operated by coins, banknotes, bank cards, tokens or by other means of payment, other than billiard articles and accesssories, and automatic bowling alley equipment
$15.37M
2.4% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

North Macedonia's import pattern from Bulgaria reveals strategic sourcingin electrical energy, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

North Macedonia demonstrates competitive strength in exportingcopper ores and concentrates to Bulgaria, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsstrongcomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.07B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: North Macedonia-Bulgaria Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.07 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: North Macedonia maintains a deficit of $228.85 million
  • Export Focus: North Macedonia's primary exports include copper ores and concentrates, lead ores and concentrates, zinc ores and concentrates
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Bulgaria include electrical energy, petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, ferrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $1.07B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with North Macedonia leveraging its comparative advantages in copper ores and concentrates.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

North Macedonia's specialization in copper ores and concentratescomplements Bulgaria's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in electrical energy.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.07B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyModerate
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.07B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $1.07 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in copper ores and concentrates and electrical energy demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

North Macedonia's trade deficit of $228.85 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in lead ores and concentrates present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on electrical energy, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in copper ores and concentrates may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between North Macedonia and Bulgaria represents a total trade volume of $1.07 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for North Macedonia, with imports exceeding exportsby $228.85 million.

Export Strengths

North Macedonia's exports to Bulgaria total $418.95 million, with competitive advantages in copper ores and concentrates, representing $68.27M or16.3% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Bulgaria amount to $647.80 million, highlighting economic interdependence in electrical energy, with Electrical energy comprising20.5% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates North Macedonia's strategic sourcing from Bulgaria. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between North Macedonia and Bulgaria in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023