Bulgaria Industrial Output Falls at Softer Pace

Bulgaria's industrial production fell 2.5% year-on-year in June 2026, easing from a 4.8% decline in the previous month. The slowdown in the contraction was largely driven by a rebound in manufacturing output (1.3% vs -3.9% in May), supported by gains in the manufacture of food products (4.6%), beverages (2.2%), and tobacco products (17.8%). In addition, production growth in electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply accelerated (10% vs 8.8%). On the other hand, the downturn in mining and quarrying deepened sharply (-49.1% vs -33%). By main industrial grouping, investment goods output rebounded strongly (7.7% vs -18.2%), and the decline in consumer durables eased (-0.2% vs -12.5%). In contrast, growth in energy goods moderated (6.5% vs 9.1%), while consumer non-durables swung into contraction (-5.9% vs 0.4%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial production rose 0.4%, recovering from a 0.2% decline in May.

Bulgaria’s industrial production fell 4.8% year-on-year in May 2026, deepening from a downwardly revised 3.8% decline in April. Manufacturing output contracted more sharply (-3.9% vs. -0.3% in April), driven mainly by declines in fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (-32.1%), leather and related products (-31.8%), and motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (-23.7%). Mining and quarrying activity also remained weak (-33.0% vs. -33.6%). In contrast, output from electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply rebounded (8.8% vs. -10.3%). By main industrial grouping, declines deepened for investment goods (-18.2% vs. -11.8%), intermediate goods (-6.2% vs. -5.9%), and consumer durables (-12.5% vs. -3.2%), while growth accelerated for energy goods (9.1% vs. 6.6%). Consumer non-durables rose at a broadly steady pace (0.4% vs. 0.7%). On a monthly basis, industrial output fell 0.2% in May, marking a second consecutive decline after a 4.6% drop in April.

Bulgaria’s industrial production declined 4.1% year over year in April 2026, partially offsetting March’s 4.7% growth, driven by reductions in capital goods (-3.2% vs. -5.1% in March), intermediate goods (-5.9% vs. -2.6%), and consumer durables (-3.2% vs. -5.1%). Growth also slowed for energy goods (3.3% vs. 52.9%) and consumer non-durables (1.1% vs. 4.3%). Month over month, output fell 4.6%, following a 5.2% rise in March.