Bulgaria's Dairy Industry Overview

Bulgaria, located in Southeast Europe, boasts a thriving dairy industry that serves as a cornerstone of the country's agricultural sector. With approximately 300,000 dairy cattle, Bulgaria produces an impressive annual milk volume of around 1.1 billion liters. Of this, about 1 billion liters are processed each year, highlighting the sector's efficiency.

Production and Processing

Cheese production in Bulgaria is significant, with an estimated annual output of 65,000 metric tons. In addition, the country produces nearly 20,000 metric tons of milk powder and whey. This diverse production capacity not only meets domestic demand but also caters to international markets.

Trade and Economic Impact

The dairy industry plays a pivotal role in Bulgaria's trade dynamics. Exports are valued at approximately 120 million USD annually, while imports slightly exceed this figure at around 160 million USD each year, demonstrating Bulgaria's active participation in the global dairy market.

Major Dairy Plants

• Land O’Lakes Bulgaria
• LB Bulgaricum
• Meggle Bulgaria
• Milkana Bulgaria
• Danone Bulgaria

Notable Dairy Farms

• Ivan Stanchev Farm: Located in the Plovdiv region, it is one of the largest producers of raw milk in the country.
• Minko Yoshkov Farm: Situated in the Pazardzhik region, known for high-quality dairy cattle breeds.
• Alexandra Dairy Farm: Based in the Sofia region, renowned for innovative dairy farming practices.

Market Events

In June 2023, Bulgaria experienced a significant increase in raw milk prices due to rising input costs, increased demand, and climatic conditions affecting production. This price change impacted both producers and consumers, prompting adjustments throughout the supply chain. The industry is witnessing ongoing investments in modernization, focusing on enhancing milk quality, production efficiency, and reducing environmental impact. As a member of the European Union, Bulgaria benefits from supportive funding and programs.

The city of Vratsa recently hosted its inaugural cheese and dairy festival, showcasing a diverse range of products from conventional cow, goat, and sheep cheeses to more exotic offerings such as donkey and mare cheeses. This event exemplifies the rich diversity of Bulgarian dairy products.

Challenges such as import restrictions by Rosselkhoznadzor due to disease outbreaks and concerns about potential cartel practices in dairy pricing raised by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria are being addressed to maintain market stability. The latest weekly bulletin from the Commodity Exchange and Wholesale Markets State Commission in Bulgaria reported a decrease in prices for dairy products, with the market index for wholesale food prices falling by 0.52% to 2.315 points from the previous week's 2.327 points.

Modified: 2026/02/03