Wheat production costs in Bulgaria rise by nearly 50%

Wheat production costs in Bulgaria have increased by nearly 50%, while grain purchase prices remain relatively low. According to grain producers’ representative Lyudmil Rabotov, wheat is currently being bought at around €160–180/t depending on quality.

The main pressure on costs comes from higher prices for fuel, fertilizers and crop protection products, which have risen by 30–50%. Industry estimates show that wheat production previously cost about €100 per decare, compared with around €150 per decare now.

Bulgaria harvested a larger wheat crop this year, but this has not significantly improved producer margins due to high input costs and weak purchase prices.

Bulgaria produces around 5–7 mln tons of wheat annually, while domestic consumption is about 1.5 mln tons. As a result, a large share of the crop depends on export market conditions.

Grain producers also consider the state diesel subsidy of €0.44/l insufficient and are calling for faster payments ahead of the autumn sowing campaign.

Tags: wheat, Bulgaria, prices