SOFIA: During the first ten months of 2015, Bulgaria’s fresh vegetable imports increased by 18%, reaching 190.9 thousand tonnes, while those of fresh fruits grew by 6.1% and amounted to 212.8 thousand tonnes, according to data supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The most considerable increases in the volume of imports were those of potatoes and tomatoes, up by 29.8% and 33.6%, respectively, as well as peppers, up by 28%. Meanwhile, a significant decrease was recorded for onion imports, down by nearly 10%.
As regards fresh fruit, imports continued to be led by products which are not grown in the country, such as citrus fruits and bananas. A significant increase was, however, registered in the imports of watermelons, melons, apples, pears and peaches, with between 10.8% and 44.3%. At the same time, imports of strawberries and grapes decreased by 46.3% and 16%.
In the period between January and October 2015, the country’s fresh vegetable exports amounted to 17.5 thousand tonnes, while those of fresh fruits reached 32.7 thousand tons, respectively 21.5% less and 13% more than in same period of the previous year.
There was a significant reduction in the export of onions, by 90.9%, and cabbage, by 48.7%, while tomato exports increased by 26.7% and carrot shipments grew by more than eight times.
The increase in the total export volume of fresh fruits is mainly due to the growth in the re-export of citrus fruits and bananas. When looking at those grown in the country, a significant increase was observed in the export of melons, by 40%, and a considerable decline was recorded for strawberries and peaches, down 84% and 64.8%, respectively, according to the Ministry.
