Bulgaria Industrial Output Hits Over 3-Year High

Industrial production in Bulgaria rose 4.8% year-on-year in March 2026, rebounding from an upwardly revised 8.7% decline in the previous month. This marked the strongest growth in industrial activity since October 2022 and the first increase in over a year, as manufacturing output accelerated to 4.0% after a flat reading in February. Within manufacturing, output increased notably in beverages (6.2% vs 0.8% in February), medical substances and products (27.3% vs 19.9%), computer and communication equipment, electronic and optical products (13.9% vs 0.2%), and electrical equipment (17.3% vs 6.3%). At the same time, output in electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply recovered sharply (35.6% vs -36.6%). Conversely, mining and quarrying activity declined further (-27.3% vs -23.2%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial output rose 5.8% in March, marking a four-year high, following an upwardly revised 1.6% rise in the preceding period.

Industrial production in Bulgaria fell by 8.1% year-on-year in February 2026, easing from an upwardly revised 9.9% drop in the previous month. This marked the fourteenth consecutive month of contraction in industrial activity, though the decline slowed to its weakest pace since December as manufacturing output rebounded to 0.4% after a 7% fall in January. Within the manufacturing sector, production particularly increased for tobacco products (47.3% vs 66.6%), basic pharmaceutical products and preparations (22.6% vs 2.5%), and basic metals (15.6% vs 13.8%). At the same time, output declined at a softer rate for mining and quarrying (-21.5% vs -23.4%). Conversely, activity continued to decline sharply for electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (-36.1% vs -18.5%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial output rose by 0.9% in February, the first increase in five months and rebounding from an upwardly revised 3.6% loss in the preceding period.

Industrial production in Bulgaria dropped by 8.6% year-on-year in January 2026, slipping further from a 6.7% fall in the previous month. This marked the thirteenth consecutive month of decline, as output continued to decrease in all industrial sectors. Within the manufacturing sector, production fell further (-5.3% vs -1.2% in December), mainly for leather and related products (-33.1% vs 1.5%), other non-metallic mineral products (-19.4% vs -10.7%), and other transport equipment (-19.8% vs -15.8%). Activity also dropped markedly in mining and quarrying (-23.2% vs -22.3%), driven by steep contraction in metal ore output (-18.1% vs -12.4%). Additionally, production in electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply remained in negative territory (-18.6% vs -14.1%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity fell by 2.6% in January, marking the fourth straight month of decline, following a 0.1% loss in the preceding period.