Bulgaria: Oilseeds and Products Market Update

FAS/Sofia expects a lower Bulgarian rapeseed crop in marketing year (MY) 2024/25, falling by four percent from last year to about 200,000 metric tons (MT), due to a combination of reduced harvested area and unfavorable weather. Conversely, the sunflower crop is projected to grow to 2.1 million MT (MMT) from 1.8 MMT in MY 2023/24, due to optimal spring climate and planting conditions. In MY 2023/24, Bulgaria became a net importer of rapeseed with growing trade driven by expanding domestic crush capacities. Despite a small drought-hit sunflower crop in MY 2023/24 and limited imports, Bulgaria actually increased its sunflower crush by reducing its sunflower seed exports. This allowed Bulgaria to keep its position as the top EU exporter of sunflower oil (mainly to South Africa and Egypt), and second EU leading exporter of sunflower meal, mainly to China.