Bulgarian producers exported 3.62 billion leva worth goods to non-EU countries in the first five months of 2007, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said.

Imports to Bulgaria during the same period were 5.9 billion leva, Bulgarian news agency BTA said.

Turkey was Bulgaria's biggest trade partner, with Bulgarian exports amounting to 1.16 billion leva, up by 8.7 per cent year-on-year. Exports to Serbia rose by more than 30 per cent, year-on-year, to 409.6 million leva.

Bulgarian sales in Russia rose by more than 120 per cent to 233 million leva, while Russian imports decreased slightly to 2.1 billion leva. Imports from Turkey were also on the rise, exceeding 1.1 billion leva.

There was strong growth in Asian imports. Sales of Chinese goods in Bulgaria rose by 60 per cent to 408 million leva. Though small in volume, imports from India and Vietnam increased by more than 100 per cent.