According to preliminary data of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), foreign direct investment in Bulgaria recorded a net inflow of EUR 1.1816 B (2.8% of GDP) in January – December 2014, dropping by EUR 93.5 M (7.3%) from January – December 2013 (an inflow of EUR 1,275.1 M, 3.1% of GDP).

In December 2014 FDI grew by EUR 119.6 M, compared with an outflow of EUR 270 M in December 2013.

The equity capital (acquisition/disposal of shares and equities in cash and contributions in kind by non-residents in/from the capital and reserves of Bulgarian enterprises and receipts/payments from/for real estate deals in the country) amounted to EUR 498.4 M. It decreased by EUR 580.5 M compared to that attracted in the same period of 2013 (EUR 1.0788 B). The receipts from real estate investments of non-residents amounted to EUR 118.3 M, compared with EUR 151.8 M attracted in January – December 2013.

The net other capital (the change in the net liabilities of the direct investment enterprise to the direct investor on financial loans, suppliers’ credits and debt securities) was positive, amounting to EUR 514.3 M in January – December 2014, compared with a positive one of EUR 92.8 M in January – December 2013.

Based on preliminary data on profit/loss, the reinvested earnings (the share of non-residents in the undistributed earnings/ loss of the enterprise) were estimated at EUR 169 M for January – December 2014, compared with EUR 103.4 M in the same period of 2013.

By country, the largest net direct investment in Bulgaria in January – December 2014 were those from the Netherlands (EUR 746.6 M). The largest net outflows for the period were to Germany (EUR 338.4 M).

By branch, the largest investments for January – December 2014 were in Real estate, renting and business activities (EUR 478.3 M), Financial intermediation (EUR 163.8 M), and Electricity, gas and water supply (EUR 102.5 M).

According to preliminary data, direct investment abroad totaled EUR 185.3 M in January – December 2014, compared with an increase of EUR 180.8 M in January – December 2013. In December 2014 direct investment abroad grew by EUR 31.9 M, compared with an increase of EUR 32.5 M in December 2013.