Market research

Chalk market in Bulgaria

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The Bulgarian chalk market in physical terms grew to 22 869 t in 2019, then entered a prolonged contraction, falling to 13 403 t by 2023. A notable recovery followed in 2024, with volume increasing by 24% to 16 572 t, though it remained below the 2018 starting point.

In value terms, the market displayed a different trajectory, declining from $1.1 million in 2018 to a low of $0.9 million in 2022 despite higher initial volumes. A sharp rebound in 2024 brought the market value to $1.2 million, a period high that coincided with the volume recovery.

The structure of supply shifted significantly as imports fell from 1 438 t to 220 t over the seven years, while exports remained negligible, indicating a market increasingly supplied by domestic production.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2024
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2024
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2024
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2024
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Bulgaria
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2024, t
  2. 5.1.2. In value, 2018-2024, K $ US
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, K $ US
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bulgaria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bulgaria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bulgaria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bulgaria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bulgaria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bulgaria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bulgaria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bulgaria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bulgaria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bulgaria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bulgaria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bulgaria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bulgaria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production chalk in Bulgaria

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2019, chalk production in Bulgaria reached its highest value at 868.5 thousand US dollars, but this declined by 1.7% to 853.4 thousand US dollars in 2020. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 829.9 thousand US dollars. The most significant increase occurred in 2019 at 4.7%, while the largest decrease was in 2018 at 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Bulgaria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.3%)	4.7%	(1.7%)	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

In kind, 2017-2020, t

In 2019, Bulgaria produced 21 594 tonnes of chalk, which fell by 6.1% to 20 284 tonnes in 2020. The lowest production volume was in 2018 at 18 468 tonnes. The most substantial increase was in 2019 at 16.9%, and the largest decline was in 2018 at 8.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Bulgaria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(8.8%)	16.9%	(6.1%)	0.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports chalk from Bulgaria

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed notable fluctuations during this period. In 2018, shipments peaked at 17 tonnes, but by 2020, they had dropped sharply to just 2 tonnes, marking an 84.0% decrease from the previous year and an 8.5-fold difference between the high and low points. The most significant increase was recorded in 2018 at 234.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bulgaria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	234.9%	(26.6%)	(84.0%)	(26.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Romania was the dominant destination for chalk exports from Bulgaria, accounting for 92.8% of total export volumes.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bulgaria in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values displayed an unstable trend over these years. In 2018, they reached a peak of 11.8 thousand US dollars, but by 2020, they had fallen to a low of 0.6 thousand US dollars, representing a 91.2% drop from 2019 and a 20-fold gap between the extremes. The largest increase occurred in 2018 at 728.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bulgaria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	728.6%	(43.7%)	(91.2%)	(25.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Romania nearly monopolized the value-based export structure for chalk from Bulgaria, holding a 94.3% share of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bulgaria in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports chalk to Bulgaria

Imports in kind, t

Chalk imports into Bulgaria declined for the third consecutive year in 2020, totaling 1 231 tonnes, down 4.3% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 19.3%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 6.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bulgaria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.7%)	(10.5%)	(4.3%)	(6.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Greece dominated Bulgaria's chalk imports in volume terms, representing 91.3% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bulgaria in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Bulgaria's chalk imports were valued at 157.6 thousand US dollars, up 4.0% from the previous year. The lowest value was in 2019 at 151.6 thousand US dollars, while the highest was in 2018 at 243.9 thousand US dollars. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports decreased by 5.8%, or an annualized rate of 2.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 37.8%, and the most significant increase was in 2018 at 45.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bulgaria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	45.7%	(37.8%)	4.0%	(2.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, Greece and Romania together accounted for 82.5% of Bulgaria's chalk import value, with other countries contributing to a more diversified but smaller portion of the total.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bulgaria in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io