Bulgaria: Grain Market Update
Following big yields and a record corn crop of 3.5 million metric tons (MMT) in 2018, Bulgarian farmers are expanding area planted in MY2019/20 to take advantage of favorable spring weather and April/May rainfall. Dry planting conditions in fall 2018 and insufficient winter precipitation negatively affected the winter grain production. Rain in April and early May should help the wheat and barley crops, but yields are likely to decline in MY2019/20. Sub-surface moisture reserves remain below last year’s levels and pose a risk for corn and other spring grains. According to updated production data for MY2018/19, mainly for wheat and corn, total grain production increased by 3.7 percent over the previous year. However, sluggish exports and stagnant consumption may lead to higher ending stocks.
