Market research

Paddy rice market in Bulgaria

Release date: Mar 28, 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 paddy rice market volume showed significant volatility from 2018 to 2023. It began the period at 36 989 tons in 2018, peaked at 49 634 tons in 2019, and then declined to 38 567 tons in 2020.

A recovery to 41 025 tons occurred in 2021 alongside a notable expansion of cultivated areas in the Pazardzhik region, signaling increased production interest despite persistent challenges from high input costs and labor shortages. The market grew further to 48 677 tons in 2022, primarily driven by a sharp 61% drop in rice prices that stimulated consumption, while the introduction of mandatory export licensing from January 2022 likely restrained overseas sales and increased domestic availability.

In 2023, the domestic market volume contracted sharply to 30 541 tons as exports surged by 75%, diverting supply away from local consumption. During this year, authorities also prepared new regulations for farmers' markets, which may influence future domestic distribution.

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, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Bulgaria
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Bulgaria in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Bulgaria in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
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 paddy rice in Bulgaria

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Bulgaria's paddy rice production saw a decline after two years of growth. In 2019, production reached its peak at 70 920 tons, but then fell by 7.2% to 65 810 tons in 2020. The largest annual increase occurred in 2019 at 16.8%. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 12.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.8%	16.8%	(7.2%)	4.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paddy rice from Bulgaria

Exports in kind, t

Bulgaria's paddy rice exports have increased for three consecutive years. In 2020, exports reached 38 741 tons, representing a 33.7% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports surged by 167.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 38.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	98.6%	0.6%	33.7%	38.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey was the dominant buyer of Bulgarian paddy rice, accounting for 98.4% of total exports in volume terms.

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

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export values reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2020, with a 4.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, paddy rice deliveries from Bulgaria reached 16 760 thousand US dollars, marking a 72.6% increase compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 3.7%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 164.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	164.7%	(3.7%)	72.6%	63.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Turkey played a dominant role in Bulgaria's paddy rice exports in value terms, consistently accounting for 98.3% of total 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 paddy rice to Bulgaria

Imports in kind, t

Bulgaria's paddy rice imports have increased for two consecutive years. In 2020, imports amounted to 11 498 tons, reflecting a sharp 49.7% increase from 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 5 058 tons, which represented a 4.3% decline. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 51.8%. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 117.5%, equating to an average annual rate of 29.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.3%)	51.8%	49.7%	29.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Bulgaria's paddy rice imports in volume terms were highly concentrated on Greece, which accounted for 96.5% of total 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

Bulgaria's paddy rice imports have increased for three consecutive years. In 2020, imports stood at 4 053 thousand US dollars, up by 51.4% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 151.6%, equating to an average annual rate of 36.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.6%	60.4%	51.4%	36.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Greece almost fully determined the geographical structure of Bulgaria's paddy rice imports in value terms, with a share of 92.9% of total flows.

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