Free of charge

Corn: Total exports draw an ascending trend

March 29, 2018 at 10:49 AM , Starry Night Ltd.
Play report as audio

SOFIA. Despise tough regional competition, exports are expected to continue their – sometimes slow, sometimes brisk – ascending trend. Agrometeorological conditions still not favorable for the start of sowing.

BULGARIA. Because of the recent showers and quick snow melting throughout the country, in the majority of regions, fields have ample supply of water. The higher than usual moisture reserves in fields generally will prevent farmers from entering plots to start sowing corn nationwide. It is vital for the optimal period of planting to be observed so that crops could develop at their fullest potential, ceteris paribus. Anyhow, the recent weather forecast predicts quite a sudden rise in temperatures, reaching as high as 22 Celsius degrees in places.

Corn: regional competitive forces influence local exports

Although there has been an ample supply of corn within the Black sea basin, the high-quality characteristics of local corn harvest 2017-18, made more alluring by regional competitive prices, have pushed up the export rate to EU markets. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, by the 23rd of March 2018, registered exports reached 689,557 mt, which on a year-to-year basis stand by 8.81% higher than shipped quantities to the same destinations from last year by that time. Major markets of the EU are Greece, France, and Spain, among others.

       Harvest 2017-18

(01.09.2017 - 23.03.2018)

           units in MT

Beginning availability

580,000

Aggregate output

2,315,387

Imports

10,460

Domestic consumption

730,000

   food & industrial usage

280,000

   Feed

450,000

Exports to the world

840,393

   to EU markets

   689,557

   to rest of the world

   150,836

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

Even though expectations are for total shipped volumes abroad to go over 1 mmt in the following two months, total exports have been dented by a prevailing lower export rate to markets outside the EU. It has been a tough regional competition that continues to be the major challenge for local intermediary market players while exporting to countries outside the Union. On a yearly basis, exports to non-EU markets lag behind those of last year. A case in point, by the end of last week, according to local authorities, shipped volumes to markets outside the Union amounted to 150,836 mt, which stand by 13.50% less than those of last year by the same time. In the following month, the trend is not expected to speed-up its climb.

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Organic Commodities
Feb 5, 2026
AMSTERDAM. Recalls over salmonella have prompted organic chia seeds to make headlines in Canada. Supplies from South America and Uganda are currently available in Europe.
Grains
Feb 2, 2026
DALIAN/BRUSSELS. EU countries have imported around 10% less millet from third countries so far this season. Prices in China have been volatile, but have remained within a narrow range.
Grains
Feb 2, 2026
DALIAN/BRUSSELS. The Chinese buckwheat market appears balanced a few weeks before the Chinese New Year festivities. Processors are primarily buying according to demand, while growers are unwilling to accept lower prices.
Grains
Jan 27, 2026
LIMA/SUCRE. The supply of red and black quinoa remains scarce. Strict requirements limit the availability of organic goods that meet EU quality standards. Bolivia is cautiously optimistic about the coming crop.