Bulgaria Sees Surge in Imitation Dairy Production Amidst Rising Imports
Source: The DairyNews
According to the latest "Milk and Dairy Products" report by the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture, there has been a significant uptick in the production of imitation dairy products within the country.
Data for the first four months of the year show that production of dairy alternatives containing vegetable oils reached 4,365 tons, up nearly 20% from 3,634 tons during the same period last year.
Despite persistent complaints from Bulgarian livestock breeders about the competitive pressure from imported products and unfavorable purchase prices, the influx of foreign dairy goods remains substantial. In 2023, Bulgaria imported around 10,500 tons of cheese and cottage cheese from Germany, nearly 7,000 tons from Poland, and considerable quantities from the Netherlands. Additionally, imports from Italy, Romania, and Belgium combined approached 13,000 tons.
This surge in imports is having a tangible impact on local dairy production. According to the Ministry, Bulgarian dairy farmers produced nearly 792,000 liters of milk in 2023, marking a decrease of almost 150,000 liters compared to 2021. The purchase price of milk in Bulgaria also remained below the average for European Union countries last month, further challenging the local dairy industry.
Despite persistent complaints from Bulgarian livestock breeders about the competitive pressure from imported products and unfavorable purchase prices, the influx of foreign dairy goods remains substantial. In 2023, Bulgaria imported around 10,500 tons of cheese and cottage cheese from Germany, nearly 7,000 tons from Poland, and considerable quantities from the Netherlands. Additionally, imports from Italy, Romania, and Belgium combined approached 13,000 tons.
This surge in imports is having a tangible impact on local dairy production. According to the Ministry, Bulgarian dairy farmers produced nearly 792,000 liters of milk in 2023, marking a decrease of almost 150,000 liters compared to 2021. The purchase price of milk in Bulgaria also remained below the average for European Union countries last month, further challenging the local dairy industry.
