Corn crops in Bulgaria were severely affected by the drought

According to USDA's FAS Foreign Agricultural Service, due to severe drought, the maize crop in Bulgaria will be the lowest in 10 years at 2.2 million tonnes, compared to 2.45 million tonnes in FY 2023/24, while maize planting area in 2024 /25 MR decreased in comparison with the previous season by 9% to 484 thousand ha.

 

The 2024/25 season will be the third in a row when the country's corn yield will be significantly below average, which could affect future plans for planting the crop. At present, more than 90% of the area under corn in the country is not irrigated, and new investments are coming in very slowly.

 

According to FAS, against the backdrop of difficult prospects for the 2024/25 MR harvest, the country's farmers almost stopped export sales in July. In general, in 2023/24 FY (as of August 9), corn exports amounted to 693,000 tons (mainly to countries outside the EU), compared to 950,000 tons for the same period in 2022/23 FY.

 

At the same time, FAS experts increased the forecast of barley production in Bulgaria to a record 930,000 tons and left the estimate of the wheat harvest at the level of 6.9 million tons, which will correspond to last year's level.

 

"The dry weather allowed for a timely harvest and improved wheat quality, and the share of food wheat exceeded 70%, while in FY 2023/24 it did not exceed 50%," FAS reports.