Bulgaria: Fish and Seafood Market Brief
Bulgarian fish importers seek to expand local availability, especially mid- and high-value fish products. According to U.S. Census Bureau (BICO) data, 2018 U.S. fish exports to Bulgaria reached $390,000, down by 32 percent from 2017. However, according to Global Trade Atlas (GTA) data, which captures imports based on country of origin, and therefore U.S. imports through other European Union (EU) ports of entry, Bulgaria imported $704,200 of U.S. fish and seafood in 2018, a 16 percent increase over 2017. This trade consisted mainly of frozen squid, lobster, frozen hake and scallops. The notable difference in data reflects that most U.S. seafood enters Bulgaria via distributors in other EU member states. 2018 U.S. fish exports to Bulgaria increased by 115 percent from 2016. Bulgaria’s emerging restaurant sector is an important driver for fish and seafood demand growth. Per capita consumption of fish and seafood is still below the EU average.
