Bulgaria: A drop in this season’s rapeseed crop due to low yield

In 2021/22 MY, the total rapeseed crop in Bulgaria amounted to 394 K mt, which is 41% more compared to 2020/21 MY. There was an increase in the plantings by 9%, which was supported by a near-record yield.

The increase in harvest leads to an increase in the export of rapeseed (+46% to 2020/21 MY) and rapeseed oil (38 K mt against 2 K mt in 2020/21 MY) under the condition of stable demand from the EU countries, which is the main sales destination.

The estimate of the rapeseed crop in the current 2022/23 MY, taking into account operational data on harvesting, is 298 K mt (-24% to 2021/22 MY) due to a decrease in yield.

A reduction in the rapeseed harvest in Bulgaria will lead to a 22% decrease in rapeseed exports by 2021/22 MY and an 18% decrease in domestic processing. The market will traditionally remain focused on EU countries.

According to the current forecast, the area of ​​rapeseed for the 2023 harvest will decrease by 5-8% compared to last year. After the sowing is completed, the focus will traditionally shift to the state of crops and the course of overwintering.