Foreign investments up 36% for the first nine months of 2012

Foreign direct investments (FDI) in Bulgaria reached €972 mln for the first nine months of 2012, according to preliminary data from the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB). This means an increase of 36% compared to the same period last year. However, only the first six months of 2012 saw FDI grow. Data for the third quarter show FDI stood at just €162 mln, or one third of their amount a year earlier. Though preliminary, figures for September are even more worrisome, showing a capital outflow of €167 mln. If the trend persists through the end of 2012, it is unlikely FDI will exceed their 2011 result of about €1.3 bn, with nearly €6 bn in 2007.

For the January-September period the largest share of FDI in Bulgaria came from the Netherlands (€611 mln), Russia (€134 mln) and Switzerland (€101 mln). Net capital outflow was focused toward Germany (€249 mln) and Greece (€68 mln).

In light of the latest data an NSI business research carries a definite optimistic sentiment. The NSI investment business poll shows that entrepreneurs predict this industry investments will finish the year with a 4.3% growth year-on-year. Among the main manufacturing categories the biggest share of investments in 2012 is expected to come from energy and water-related sectors (43%), followed by intermediate goods (30%) and consumer goods (17%). Projections for 2013 show industry investments climbing 27% year-on-year, with energy and water-related sectors taking the largest relative share in growth – 51%. According to the poll intermediate goods (31%) and consumer goods will also have a significant share of the growth, 31% and 10% respectively.

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