California exports to former Soviet satellites exceed those to all of the former Soviet states.

Driven by sales of electronics, computers and machinery, five of Eastern Europe's largest new democracies collectively imported $105.09 million of California products last year, more than the $90.20 million spent by all the states of the former Soviet Union combined, according to latest available data.

The report reflecting a surge in California buying by Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania comes from the Massachusetts Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Unlike the trade figures recently released by the Los Angeles Unified Port District which count the value of goods shipped through Los Angeles Port facilities at Long Beach, San Pedro and Los Angeles International Airport, the institute data track all goods and services produced in California shipped through other ports or transported by rail or truck to other countries.

California companies exported goods worth $36.7 million to Poland in 1991, a jump of 31.54 percent from $27.9 million in 1990, according to the institute figures. Polish buyers spent $10.83 million for industrial machinery and computer equipment, an increase of 161.3 percent. They bought $8.35 million in California electronics and electronic equipment (exclusive of computers), up 254.4 percent from $2.36 million.

Poland also bought California apparel and textile products worth $2.4 million in 1991, a huge leap from the previous year's $57,624. California printing and publishing exports to Poland increased 829 percent, to $1.62 million from $174,707, according to the data.

Czechoslovakia's imports of California products inched up 0.9 percent, to $21.07 million from $20.88 million. Sales of printing and publishing equipment broadjumped from $188,812 to $2.88 million. Electronic equipment sales (excluding computers) rose 618.4 percent, from $697,501 to $5.01 million, according to the institute.

Czechoslovakia will be a good short-term prospective buyer for California exports, said Neil Garston, associate chairman of the economic department at Cal State University at Los Angeles.

"The government is in the process of selling off the government-owned industries to Czech citizens," he said. "There may be some joint-venture agreements made with foreign investors but the European countries already have strong ties to key individuals in Czech industries."

California exported $19.66 million worth of goods to Hungary last year, an increase of 31.5 percent, according to the data. Transportation-equipment sales totaled $3.67 million, a giant gain on the previous year's $186,750.

Not all Eastern European countries show the potential appetite for California goods shown by Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Despite a good showing in 1991, Bulgaria traditionally has been slow to make decisions and reposition its economy, said Cal State's Garston. "The way things look now, they will be interested in buying machinery for agriculture," Garston said.

Bulgarian imports from California jumped 472.6 percent, to $11.07 million in 1991 from $1.93 million. It spent $8.11 million for metal mining equipment and paid California companies $1.24 million for industrial machinery and computer equipment, according to the study.

Romania had a smaller increase in demand for California exports than some of its Eastern European neighbors. Driven by purchases of California industrial machinery and computer equipment totaling $6.04 million, a 560.9 percent increase, Romania increased its California imports only 4.8 percent, to $16.59 million from $15.83 million, according to the data.