Exports of Bulgarian corn have suffered a dramatic collapse over the past three years, according to new data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
The ministry’s analysis highlights the severe challenges facing the country’s grain sector, with corn in particular witnessing a steep decline in both volumes and revenues.
During the 2022–2023 business year, immediately following the outbreak of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Bulgaria’s corn trade was still performing strongly. Export levels exceeded one million tons, reaching 1,258,892 tons, while revenues climbed to €348 million.
At that time, international grain prices were aligned with production costs, allowing the industry to maintain healthy margins despite mounting geopolitical risks.
The following year brought the first significant downturn. Between October 2023 and April 2024, exports nearly halved, dropping to 661,623 tons. Revenues suffered an even sharper fall, reaching just €132.3 million – less than half of the previous year’s earnings.
Industry experts attributed the decline to both shrinking demand and logistical challenges linked to the continuing war in the Black Sea region.
By the 2024–2025 business year, the picture had worsened further. From October 2024 to April 2025, Bulgaria exported just 346,217 tons of corn, earning €77.2 million.
Compared to the 2022 peak, this represented a fourfold decline in volume and a more than four-and-a-half-fold collapse in income.
The country’s main trading partners remained Romania, Greece and China. However, exports to China, once a significant outlet, have stopped completely in the past year, a consequence of disrupted shipping routes and shifting market dynamics.
Sunflower seeds, another cornerstone of Bulgaria’s agricultural exports, showed a less severe but still concerning trend. In the 2022–2023 business year, exports stood at 797,978 tons, earning nearly €699.4 million. The following year saw a decline to 678,663 tons and €518.4 million in revenue.
Between September 2023 and April 2024, sunflower seed exports slipped further to 492,781 tons, with income falling to €370.5 million. Analysts pointed to both lower demand in key markets and depressed international prices as major factors behind the downturn.
The most recent figures, covering September 2024 to April 2025, suggest a modest recovery in sunflower trade. Export volumes rose to 604,977 tons – a notable rebound compared to the previous year.
However, the improved volumes did not translate into proportionate revenues. Export earnings reached €436.5 million, reflecting the continuing impact of subdued global prices.
The Netherlands, Germany and China remain Bulgaria’s main sunflower buyers, ensuring that the crop retains an important role in the country’s agricultural trade portfolio.
Experts warn, however, that the twin challenges of volatile global prices and geopolitical instability will continue to weigh heavily on Bulgaria’s grain exports.
With corn trade in freefall and sunflower seeds only partially recovering, the country’s agricultural sector faces ongoing uncertainty in its foreign trade outlook.