Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
Bulgaria harvested its smallest corn crop since 2012 as unfavorable weather conditions reduced this year’s crop by 37% from the previous year, according to a report by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
According to FAS, the 2024-25 crop was affected by “severe summer heat and drought followed by unfavorable rainy weather during harvest.”
“The quality of the crop was also affected and was reportedly uneven, with high fluctuations in aflatoxin levels,” FAS said.
Bulgaria, in contrast, had a record wheat and barley harvest, with wheat the second largest crop this century at 7 million tons and barley the third largest since 2000 at 1.1 million tons.
“Domestic consumption of wheat and barley increases in 2024-25 due to the substitution of corn for feed and industrial use, which reduces export surpluses,” FAS said.
Wheat exports are therefore 10% behind last year’s level, with nearly 80% destined for markets outside the European Union, FAS said.
Barley consumption is estimated to increase due to increased use for seed sowing, beer and feed production, the report said.
“Barley is in high demand by feed mills and especially by pork producers,” FAS said in the report. “Its lower price compared to wheat is another advantage contributing to its growing use.”
Bulgaria’s agriculture ministry said in late January that 16% more barley was used for feed in 2024-25 than in the corresponding period of the previous year. In the brewing industry, barley use increased even more, by 64% compared to the same period in 2023-24.
“Despite the increase in domestic consumption, barley exports doubled compared to 2023-24,” the FAS said.