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.

The Dominican Republic continues to be a strong market for U.S. bulk agricultural products (e.g., corn), intermediate goods (e.g., soybean meal), and high value consumer-oriented products (e.g., processed food products), reaching a total export value...

FAS/Sofia’s marketing year (MY) 2023/24 corn production estimate is lowered to 2.5 million metric tons (MMT) based on the harvest progress to date. The corn crop suffered from severe and prolonged summer drought and high heat which reduced yields considerably.

The Government of Bulgaria (GOB) continues to oppose agricultural biotechnology. Non-governmental anti-biotech organizations, local activists, and Bulgaria’s organics industry actively spread nonscientific disinformation about biotechnology.

The Dominican Republic, through its Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SME’s (MICM), announced the activation of the CAFTA-DR agricultural safeguard measure for imports of chicken leg quarters (CLQ’s) from the United States on October 30, 2023.

The closure of the Haiti-Dominican Republic border on September 14 due to a binational dispute over the construction of a canal on the Haitian side of the Dajabon River has exacerbated the food security situation in Haiti and caused mounting losses for Dominican farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil (MAPA) announced the opening of the Dominican Republic market for pork and beef products on August 9, 2023.

In 2023, U.S. agricultural exports to the Dominican Republic (DR) are on pace to reach an all-time high, powered by strong demand from the food service sector for consumer-oriented products.