Free of charge

Wheat: Prices remain strong; exports grow

October 19, 2017 at 9:47 AM , Starry Night Ltd.
Play report as audio

SOFIA. Local prices resist a further downfall on the background of an excess regional production and supply. This year’s grains have much higher quality characteristics.

BULGARIA. The recent favorable weather conditions allowed farmers to continue sowing the fields. By the 12th of October 2017, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, sowed acreages of wheat reached 399,317 ha, which on a year-to-year basis lags behind by only 2.4%. Milling and feed wheat are the two varieties of locally grown grains that, in absolute terms, lead among the rest in exported volumes to foreign market, the majority of shipments going to the EU. As a result, expected sowed acreages this year will be close, if not more, than planted areas last year. For this marketing season, the countries realized the highest output – 5,761,626 mt, for a period of at least two decades.

Wheat: Exports continue to grow on a weekly basis

Last week, although shipped volumes abroad lost momentum, when compared to those of the previous few weeks, exports of milling and feed wheat beat exports’ rates from last year. By the end of last week, only via Varna seaport, according to local authorities, were shipped abroad 1,155,392 mt, which on a yearly basis is 41.9% higher than shipped volumes from last year. The trend is expected to continue since local prices are competitive while this year’s characteristics of the grains are much higher when compared to those of season 2016-17.

Harvest 2017-18

(01.07.2017 - 13.10.2017)

Beg.availability, incl. carry over & imports

6,109,363  mt

Domestic consumption

432,800 mt

Exports to the world

2,136,411 mt

   to EU markets

1,885,212 mt

   to rest of the world

251,199 mt

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

In the realm of prices

Bulgarian milling and feed wheat have been usually traded lower than their counterparts with Ukrainian and Russia origins. The high protein content of this year’s grains serves as a cushion against sharp falls in prices. However, prices are far away from following a steep upward trend in the short-term because of the much higher supply of wheat from the major producers and exporters in the Black sea region.  

Wheat, Bulgaria

Type

EUR/kg

milling wheat

0.140

feed wheat

0.134

EXW Bulgaria

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Grains
Oct 29, 2025
KYIV/DALIAN. Ukrainian farmers have harvested around 60% less millet than at this time last year. Shipments to the EU have also fallen by 24%.
Grains
Oct 29, 2025
DALIAN/MOSCOW. The availability of the new crop is stabilising supply on the Chinese market. Ukrainian farmers have still not completed the harvest. Russia's crop is expected to fall to a 20-year low.
Organic Commodities
Oct 15, 2025
BUENOS AIRES/NEW DELHI. Crop damage in South America is forcing buyers to look for alternative countries of origin. India appears to be the logical choice.
Grains
Oct 8, 2025
DALIAN/KYIV. In China, the new crop has recently become available on the market. Ukrainian farmers have completed more than 70% of the harvest. EU countries have more than doubled their buckwheat imports.