Over the last fifteen years, Austria-Hungary has been the leading supplier of goods to Bulgaria. During the first five-year period, 1890–1894, imports from Austria-Hungary reached their highest level, accounting for 37.5% of Bulgaria’s total imports. However, in the following periods, a noticeable decrease occurred. In 1895–1899, imports from Austria-Hungary fell to 28.9%, and in 1900–1904, they further decreased to 27.3% of the total imports.
This decline is mainly due to the overall reduction in Bulgaria’s total import volume. During the first period, Bulgaria’s total imports were about 14 million francs higher than in the second period and 7 million francs higher than in the third period. Since Austria-Hungary had been the primary trading partner at that time, most of this reduction naturally affected its exports to Bulgaria. In addition, during the early years, other countries had limited access to Bulgarian markets and could not compete effectively with Austrian-Hungarian goods.
Imports from England
The second most important source of imports is England. English imports show a slight decrease in absolute value over the years, but their proportion compared to Bulgaria’s total imports has been uneven. In the first period (1890–1894), English imports represented 21.8% of total imports. During the second period (1895–1899), their share rose to 23.8%, showing temporary growth. However, in the third period (1900–1904), the share dropped significantly to 17.6% Private Tour Ephesus.
Imports from Turkey
Turkey is the next important trading partner. Imports from Turkey have been more variable compared with Austria-Hungary and England. During 1890–1894, Turkish goods accounted for 12.3% of total imports. In the second period, their share slightly decreased to 11.6%, but in the last period (1900–1904), it increased again to 13.8%. This fluctuation shows that Bulgaria’s trade with Turkey was influenced by both market demand and political or economic conditions in the region.
Overall, Austria-Hungary remained the largest source of imports, but its share declined due to the growth of competition and reduced total import volume. England’s imports fluctuated, reflecting shifting demand and trade patterns, while Turkey’s imports remained variable but important. These trends indicate that Bulgaria’s import markets were gradually diversifying, reducing reliance on a single country and establishing trade relations with multiple European partners.