Bulgaria: Date Market 2025

Date Market Size in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian date market rose to $X in 2022, growing by 2.5% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption, however, recorded a prominent increase. Date consumption peaked at $X in 2020; afterwards, it flattened through to 2022.

Date Exports

Exports from Bulgaria

For the third consecutive year, Bulgaria recorded growth in overseas shipments of dates, which increased by 106% to X tons in 2022. Overall, exports saw significant growth. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 with an increase of 1,097% against the previous year. The exports peaked in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in years to come.

In value terms, date exports skyrocketed to $X in 2022. In general, exports continue to indicate a significant expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when exports increased by 912% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the near future.

Exports by Country

The Netherlands (X tons), Romania (X tons) and Germany (X tons) were the main destinations of date exports from Bulgaria, together accounting for 47% of total exports. North Macedonia, Serbia, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary and Sweden lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 38%.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for North Macedonia (with a CAGR of +149.1%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($X), Romania ($X) and the Netherlands ($X) were the largest markets for date exported from Bulgaria worldwide, together accounting for 49% of total exports. Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary and Sweden lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 23%.

In terms of the main countries of destination, North Macedonia, with a CAGR of +103.5%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The average date export price stood at $X per ton in 2022, dropping by -9.5% against the previous year. Overall, export price indicated a pronounced increase from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +2.3% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, date export price decreased by -35.1% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2019 when the average export price increased by 50% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs at $X per ton in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major export markets. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Hungary ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to Bosnia and Herzegovina ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Hungary (+148.8%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Date Imports

Imports into Bulgaria

In 2022, imports of dates into Bulgaria expanded to X tons, picking up by 1.9% on the year before. In general, imports recorded a strong increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when imports increased by 73%. Imports peaked at X tons in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, date imports rose rapidly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, imports enjoyed a significant expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when imports increased by 108%. Imports peaked in 2022 and are likely to see steady growth in the near future.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Iran (X tons) constituted the largest date supplier to Bulgaria, accounting for a 57% share of total imports. Moreover, date imports from Iran exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Tunisia (X tons), threefold. The third position in this ranking was held by Turkey (X tons), with an 8.1% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from Iran stood at +7.1%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Tunisia (+74.6% per year) and Turkey (+80.0% per year).

In value terms, Iran ($X), Tunisia ($X) and the Netherlands ($X) constituted the largest date suppliers to Bulgaria, together comprising 72% of total imports. Israel, Turkey, Greece and Pakistan lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 23%.

Among the main suppliers, Pakistan, with a CAGR of +118.4%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the average date import price amounted to $X per ton, with an increase of 9.1% against the previous year. In general, import price indicated prominent growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +7.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, date import price increased by +96.5% against 2012 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the average import price increased by 22%. The import price peaked in 2022 and is likely to see gradual growth in the near future.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was the Netherlands ($X per ton), while the price for Turkey ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Turkey (+7.7%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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