Record-high crops pose problems for Bulgarian wheat growers

This year's wheat harvest in Bulgaria totalled 7,388,000 tonnes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture's latest operational analysis. The question, though, is whether this record yield – the largest in recent years – meets market demand.

With domestic wheat consumption in Bulgaria standing at around two million tonnes per year, there is no risk of a shortage, so consumers can rest assured. The same cannot be said for grain producers. Due to high production costs and low prices, many still have unsold stock from last year. This year's abundant harvest is therefore not a cause for celebration, as costs remain high while prices remain low.

In 2026, the harvested area is almost 8 per cent smaller, but yields are nearly 10 per cent higher, resulting in a larger overall harvest than last year. Producers say, however, that grain prices remain at levels seen 15–20 years ago, while the cost of inputs has risen several times over.

This imbalance, according to the National Grain Producer Association (NGPA), has led to the disappearance of 35 per cent of Bulgaria's grain-producing farms over the past five years. They have either gone bankrupt, been sold or merged into larger operations. The NGPA warns that the trend could eventually lead to a reduction in the amount of arable land.

Wheat producers are also questioning why bread prices have risen so sharply when wheat prices are close to levels seen two decades ago, and where in the supply chain the increase is occurring.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova