Bulgaria: Oilseeds and Products Market Update

Bulgaria's sunflower production had another challenging year due to extreme summer heat and drought. FAS/Sofia reduces its marketing year (MY) 2025/26 sunflower production estimate to 1.66 million metric tons (MMT), very close to the MY 2024/25 level. However, as Bulgaria harvested higher than expected rapeseed crop, FAS/Sofia increases its estimate to 295,000 MT. This supply situation is forecast to lead to growth in rapeseed crush, and stagnant or slightly lower sunflower crush while exports of oilseeds will likely decline. The fall planting of MY 2026/27 rapeseed was completed in relatively good climate conditions with a substantial 35 percent increase in area planted and optimistic prospects for the new crop.