Browse Data and Analysis

The U.S. Census Bureau’s bulk, intermediate, and consumer oriented (BICO) export data tracks U.S. food and agriculture trade shipped directly to Bulgaria. However, it does not measure the substantial levels of the U.S. agricultural trade to Bulgaria routed through Western European ports of entry.

Bulgaria’s grocery retail sector has remained stable and vital despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the galloping inflation, and the war in Ukraine. Grocery retail sales rose year-on-year by 2.8 percent in 2021 and 4.8 percent in 2022 as compared to the previous years.

As a European Union (EU) Member State, Bulgaria applies EU regulatory requirements for all animal- and plant-origin food and agricultural imports.

Bulgaria acceded to the European Union (EU) in 2007 and follows EU directives and regulations pertaining to food safety, quality and standards.

FAS/Sofia’s marketing year (MY) 2023/24 sunflower production estimate is lowered to 1.7 million metric tons (MMT) based on the final harvest data. The sunflower crop suffered from severe and prolonged summer drought and high heat which reduced yields considerably.

In 2015, Bulgaria followed EU agricultural and food import requirements. No new or additional national import requirements have been introduced by Bulgaria.

Bulgaria, a newly developing market economy, is easily affected by world market fluctuations.

This report contains information about Bulgaria’s Hospitality, Restaurant, and Institutional (HRI) food service industry.

FAS Sofia organized the participation of the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission in the opening of the Whiskey Fest in Sofia to promote U.S. whiskey, culture, and responsible drinking policy.

A new Ministry of Agriculture and Food regulation on supply of food and drinks to children at kindergartens, schools and other institutions hosting children was published in early November.

The newly proposed Ministry of Health’s and highly controversial public health tax legislation has caused heated debates in the food and drink industry as well as in business circles...

The first tentative post-harvest data on 2015 oilseeds crops showed rapeseed production in line with AgSofia’s earlier forecast, however, the sunflower crop declined due to the summer heatwave.