This week sugar appeared in stores with a new price – up to 3 BGN per kilogram, and in Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Lovech and Pleven it is even more expensive and surpassed a liter of gasoline. Data from the agricultural market information system indicates that the price has risen by 87% in one year, BNT reported.
The Gorna Oryahovitsa plant is the only sugar producer in Bulgaria and supplies about 30% of the needs of Bulgarian consumers.
“These are normal market conditions: we operate on a single European market. About 70-80% of sugar in Bulgaria comes from the EU and the European market is relatively closed,” said Valentina Raleva, executive director of the plant.
The problems in the sector were mainly caused by inflation and war.
Furthermore, 2021-2022 was characterized by a severe drought in Europe, which resulted in a lower yield of beet, therefore less production and less supply. A further factor is the increase in all costs: energy, transport, etc.
At the moment, the biggest problem is the disruption of supply chains for raw materials and basic materials, Raleva pointed out.
“As we prepare for 2023, we are having a hard time concluding contracts because there are companies that are not sure of continuing to work. The other problem, which is not just about us, is that we don’t have a job status,” he said. .
According to her, energy compensation is a good measure, but rather a populist one, and the most important thing right now is to have a functioning state.
