Bulgaria: Tree Nuts Market Update

Strong demand growth continued in the Bulgarian tree nut market in marketing year (MY) 2023/24. The domestic demand increase was led by both the retail/food service industry and by the confectionary trade. Local production of tree nuts, however, has not kept up with this expanding demand, and in fact declined last marketing year due to adverse weather (summer drought and heat). This led to surging imports, including from the United States. For MY 2024/25 expectations are for a marginal recovery in local supply, and stable to higher imports and consumption. In MY 2023/24, the United States strengthened its market position as a leading tree nut supplier to Bulgaria, with double digit growth in Bulgarian imports of U.S. tree nuts to over $14 million.