Bulgaria: Wood Products Sector Update
The Bulgarian forest sector has developed successfully in the last five years with growing timber production and stock, increased forest certification, introduction of more efficient and transparent trade mechanisms (electronic public timber tenders) and reforms addressing illegal logging and improving timber traceability. Due to environmental, infrastructural and economic challenges, the supply of high quality hardwood is limited, followed by certain types of softwood. A thriving furniture sector demands more and better quality raw materials to meet the consumption of furniture makers, especially those targeting export markets. As a result, hardwood imports have skyrocketed and in 2016 (as of September) it was 35% more than in the previous year. Furniture exports have continued to expand and in 2016 (September) were 13% more vs. 2015.
