Wheat starch market in Bulgaria

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2021, the wheat starch market in Bulgaria experienced a gradual contraction, falling from 48 thousand tons to around 46 thousand tons. This period was characterized by stable domestic wheat production, which provided the raw material base, and ongoing regulatory reviews by the Ministry of Agriculture that maintained the existing framework for starch products without introducing major disruptive changes.

The market underwent a severe contraction in 2022, with volume dropping to 28 thousand tons, a decline likely driven by the geopolitical and economic fallout from the war in Ukraine, which triggered high inflation and disrupted supply chains. A partial recovery followed in 2023, with market volume rising to 32 thousand tons as the initial shock began to subside.

Entering 2024, new VAT rules for bread and flour were introduced, which could affect the demand for wheat starch as a raw material. Concurrently, the quality of the domestic wheat harvest remained high, and regional trends indicated a growing, though modest, preference for wheat starch over other starch types, supported by the availability of specialized products like gluten-free starch for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Production wheat starch in Bulgaria

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Bulgaria ranked as the 13th largest producer of wheat starch globally, positioning it among the world's leading producers during this period.

Top producers of wheat starch, 2017-2020

World map of production of wheat starch, 2017-2020

Bulgaria's wheat starch production continued its downward trend for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 42.0 K t, marking a 3.5% decrease from the previous year. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production fell by 21.5%, which translates to an average annual decline of 7.8%.

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

Exports wheat starch from Bulgaria

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility throughout the observed period. Import levels varied dramatically, with a 12.3-fold difference between the peak in 2018 and the low in 2020. In 2020, Bulgaria's foreign wheat starch supplies amounted to 32 t, reflecting an 81.0% drop from 2019. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 387 t, which represented a substantial increase of 266.4% that year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Greece dominated Bulgaria's wheat starch exports in kind, accounting for 88.6% of the total volume. The remaining exports were distributed among numerous countries, each with relatively small individual shares.

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

Market performance showed notable fluctuations during this period. Exports varied by a factor of 9.4, from a high in 2018 to a low in 2020. In 2020, Bulgaria exported wheat starch worth 32 K $ US, indicating a sharp decline of 77.9% compared to the previous year. The peak value was reached in 2018 at 297 K $ US, which saw a significant increase of 310.1% that year.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Greece was the dominant partner in Bulgaria's wheat starch exports in value terms, consistently representing 91.7% of the total flows.

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

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

Imports wheat starch to Bulgaria

Imports in kind, t

Bulgaria's wheat starch imports declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 1 316 t, showing a sharp contraction of 34.9% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 39%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 15.2%. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 872 t, which experienced a 33.1% increase that year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium (29.8% of imports in kind), Italy (14.1%), and France (12.8%) were the key sources for Bulgaria's wheat starch imports in kind. Together, these three countries accounted for 56.7% of the total import volume.

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 wheat starch imports fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported wheat starch valued at 758 K $ US, representing a dramatic decrease of 39.3% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports dropped by 34.1%, averaging an annual decline of 13.0%. The maximum value was observed in 2018 at 1 585 K $ US, with a 37.7% increase recorded that year.

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

During 2017-2020, Belgium (33.4% of imports in value terms), France (17.0%), and Italy (10.7%) consistently held leading positions in Bulgaria's wheat starch import structure in value terms. Collectively, these three countries made up 61.1% of the 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