The rise in balance of payments was caused by an increased surplus in trade, as exports grew by 4.5%, while imports expanded by 2.9%. The trade surplus amounted to EUR 1.6bn, which is 33% more than the year before, according to Banka Slovenije's monthly bulletin.

Total Slovenian net financial outflows abroad amounted to EUR 2bn, down from EUR 2.3bn the year before. Investment in stocks were the single biggest item in net outflows abroad last year, overtaking cash deposits from the year before.

Other major transactions last year included a jump in state sector debt by EUR 1bn due to currency risk insurance and an increase in foreign ownership capital in FDI by EUR 1.4bn.

Foreign direct investment less Slovenian investment abroad caused an EUR 885m in net increase in foreign commitments.

Net foreign debt in December at the end of 2015 stood at EUR 12.1bn, which is EUR 2.5bn less than a year earlier.

Gross foreign debt amounted to EUR 44.7bn, a drop of EUR 1.6bn year-on-year. The state saw the biggest increase in gross foreign debt, while the biggest drop was in the banking sector.