Foreign Investment in Bulgaria
Inflows by year
Source: Ministry of Economy, Investments and Industry: Macroeconomic bulletin, May 2026, BNB data2
The central bank revises its figures as company accounts come in: its first estimate for 2025, published in February 2026, was €3.26 billion. The first half of 2026 brought €2.17 billion, against €293 million a year earlier.3,1
By country
Source: Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Bulgaria in Figures 20264
In the first half of 2026 the largest inflows came from Germany (€372.5 million), Luxembourg (€353.4 million) and Austria (€269.9 million). Countries are counted by the investor’s immediate owner, so holding companies in the Netherlands and Luxembourg often stand for groups based elsewhere.1,4
By sector
| Sector, 2025 (first estimate) | € million | Share of €3,262 m |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | 906.7 | 28% |
| Manufacturing | 646.8 | 20% |
| Electricity, gas and heating supply | 365.6 | 11% |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 332.2 | 10% |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 163.0 | 5% |
| Real estate | 116.9 | 4% |
| Mining and quarrying | 103.3 | 3% |
Source: Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Bulgaria in Figures 20264
By type
| € million, net | Jan–Jun 2026 | Jan–Jun 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| New equity | 196.9 | −34.2 |
| Reinvested earnings | 1,648.2 | 1,456.3 |
| Loans within the group | 329.7 | −1,129.4 |
| Total | 2,174.8 | 292.7 |
Source: Bulgarian National Bank: Balance of payments and foreign direct investment, January to June 20261
Reinvested earnings made up about three quarters of the inflow in the first half of 2026: foreign-owned companies in Bulgaria are profitable and are expanding. In 2025 as a whole, reinvested earnings were €3.69 billion, while group companies repaid €553 million of loans, on the first estimate.1,3
| Stock, € million, end of March | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Equity and reinvested earnings | 50,488.7 | 46,558.8 |
| Debt instruments | 7,772.7 | 8,059.6 |
| Foreign investment in Bulgaria | 58,261.4 | 54,618.4 |
Source: Bulgarian National Bank: Balance of payments and foreign direct investment, January to June 20261
Who is investing
| Investor | Project |
|---|---|
| BTL Industries | €51 million in Plovdiv in 2025, more than 700 jobs; Investor of the Year 2026 |
| Nestlé Bulgaria | €44.6 million in Sofia, 119 jobs |
| Intuitive Surgical | €42 million in Parvomay, more than 170 jobs |
| Festo | €40 million in Sofia, Smolyan and Gabrovo, 140 jobs |
| Tri-Wall | More than €30 million in the Trakia Economic Zone near Plovdiv, about 150 jobs, from January 2026 |
| Aero Technika | €15.9 million at Sofia Airport, 125 jobs |
Source: Fakti: Investor of the Year awards 2026; InvestBulgaria Agency: Tri-Wall investment launches in the Trakia Economic Zone5,6
The InvestBulgaria directory lists the companies, advisers and suppliers already working in Bulgaria, by sector and region.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much foreign direct investment does Bulgaria have?
Bulgaria’s stock of foreign direct investment was €58.3 billion at the end of March 2026. It comprised €50,488.7 million in equity and reinvested earnings and €7,772.7 million in debt instruments.
How much foreign investment came into Bulgaria in 2025 and 2026?
Net foreign direct investment inflow was €3.17 billion in 2025 and €2.17 billion from January to June 2026. The first-half inflow was €293 million in the same period of 2025.
Which countries invested the most in Bulgaria in 2025?
The Netherlands was Bulgaria’s largest source of net foreign investment inflow in 2025, at €639.6 million, followed by Greece at €479.1 million and Italy at €333.0 million. In the first half of 2026, the largest inflows came from Germany, Luxembourg and Austria.
Which sectors received the most foreign investment in Bulgaria in 2025?
Finance and insurance received the most foreign investment in Bulgaria in 2025, with €906.7 million, or 28% of the €3,262 million total in the first estimate. Manufacturing followed with €646.8 million, or 20%.
What type of foreign investment was most common in Bulgaria in the first half of 2026?
Reinvested earnings were the largest component of foreign investment in Bulgaria in January to June 2026, at €1,648.2 million, or about three quarters of the inflow. New equity was €196.9 million and loans within the group were €329.7 million.
Sources
- Bulgarian National Bank: Balance of payments and foreign direct investment, January to June 2026 (PDF)
- Ministry of Economy, Investments and Industry: Macroeconomic bulletin, May 2026, BNB data (PDF)
- Sofia Globe: FDI in Bulgaria in 2025 was €3.26 billion, central bank data
- Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Bulgaria in Figures 2026 (PDF)
- Fakti: Investor of the Year awards 2026
- InvestBulgaria Agency: Tri-Wall investment launches in the Trakia Economic Zone
Figures checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
