Unvulcanised rubber articles market in Bulgaria

Earlier Report Observations

The Bulgarian market for unvulcanised rubber articles expanded from 475.1 t in 2018 to 525.6 t in 2020. This growth was initially supported by a 6.8% surge in European consumption, which stimulated industrial demand across the region. The peak in 2020 was directly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased global need for medical rubber products and boosted demand for raw materials.

Market volume contracted sharply to 377.9 t in 2021, primarily due to global supply constraints. Climatic issues in key natural rubber producing countries like Thailand and Indonesia hampered raw material production, elevating prices and limiting availability. A recovery followed in 2022 and 2023, with volumes reaching 484.1 t, even as some local production bases, such as the 'CE Bordnetze' plant in Mezdra, closed down. This suggests that import flows helped meet underlying demand during this period of industrial restructuring.

In 2024, the market volume fell again to 414.0 t. This decline was influenced by a significant 30% increase in global rubber prices, caused by ongoing climatic problems in Southeast Asia, which raised input costs. Concurrently, further closures of automotive parts factories producing rubber items in Bulgaria tightened domestic supply, contributing to the overall reduction in market volume.

Production unvulcanised rubber articles in Bulgaria

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Bulgaria's production of unvulcanised rubber articles has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, output was valued at 348.7 K $ US, marking a 9.5% year-over-year decrease. From 2017 to 2020, production fell by 18%, which translates to an average annual decline of 6.4%.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

In 2020, Bulgaria produced 141.3 t of unvulcanised rubber articles, representing a significant 17.3% drop compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 20.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -7.3%. The only increase during this time occurred in 2019, when production rose by 4.3%.

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

Exports unvulcanised rubber articles from Bulgaria

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed considerable volatility, reflecting an unstable market environment. In 2018, exports hit their lowest point at 0.3 t, before surging to 2.5 t in 2019—a 908.3% increase. In 2020, exports stood at 2.4 t, down 4.9% from the previous year. The most substantial decline occurred in 2018, when exports fell by 70.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom, Georgia, and Turkey were consistently the top destinations for Bulgaria's unvulcanised rubber articles exports in volume terms. The United Kingdom accounted for 24.7% of exports, Georgia for 17.2%, and Turkey for 12.7%. Together, these three countries represented 54.6% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values displayed an unstable trend throughout the period. In 2018, they reached their lowest point at 41 K $ US, before climbing to 86 K $ US in 2020—a 74.5% increase from the previous year. The most significant decline occurred in 2018, when export values fell by 26.9%. Overall, the difference between the peak in 2020 and the low in 2018 was 2.1 times.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Bulgaria's export value structure was highly diversified. South Africa was the largest market, accounting for 17.6% of exports, followed by Georgia at 10.4% and the United Kingdom at 9.7%. Together, these three countries represented just 37.6% of total export value, with the remaining 62.4% distributed among numerous smaller trading partners.

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

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

Imports unvulcanised rubber articles to Bulgaria

Imports in kind, t

Bulgaria's imports of unvulcanised rubber articles increased for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 386.7 t—a 23.1% rise compared to 2019. However, over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 17.4%, with an average annual decline of 6.2%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 311.6 t, when imports fell by 33.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany and Greece dominated Bulgaria's imports of unvulcanised rubber articles in volume terms, together accounting for 87.7% of total imports. The remaining volume was spread across various smaller markets.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Bulgaria's import value of unvulcanised rubber articles rose for the second year in a row in 2020, reaching 1 980 K $ US—a 30.3% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 57.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 16.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 082 K $ US, when imports declined by 13.9%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a 40.4% rise.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Germany, Italy, and Greece were the primary sources for Bulgaria's imports of unvulcanised rubber articles in value terms. Germany accounted for 50.2% of imports, Italy for 26.5%, and Greece for 7.6%. Together, these three countries represented 84.4% of total import flows.

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

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