While Bulgaria's industrial landscape hums with the energy of a manufacturing powerhouse accounting for nearly a quarter of its GDP, the figures from 2022 reveal a nuanced story of robust growth, export-driven sectors, and strategic energy shifts moving far beyond stereotypes.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Bulgaria's manufacturing output reached 28.4 billion BGN, representing 72% of total industrial production
- The food, beverages, and tobacco subsector in Bulgaria produced 5.2 billion BGN worth of goods in 2022, up 4.1% from 2021
- Bulgaria's textile and leather industry employed 12,500 workers in 2022 with production value of 1.8 billion BGN
- Bulgaria's copper mining production was 45,000 tons in 2022, up 2.5% YoY
- Coal extraction in Bulgaria totaled 5.8 million tons in 2022, primarily lignite from Maritsa Iztok
- Gold output from Chelopech mine in Bulgaria reached 82,500 ounces in 2022
- Bulgaria's electricity generation from coal was 22.5 TWh in 2022, 44% of total
- Natural gas consumption in Bulgarian industry was 2.8 billion cubic meters in 2022
- Renewable energy share in Bulgaria's electricity mix was 15.2% in 2022, mainly hydro and solar
- Bulgaria's construction output grew 7.8% YoY to 12.3 billion BGN in 2022
- Building permits issued for residential construction totaled 25,000 units in Bulgaria 2022
- Road infrastructure construction contracts valued at 3.2 billion BGN in Bulgaria 2022
- Bulgaria's overall industrial production index rose 3.4% YoY in 2022
- Industrial turnover index in Bulgaria was 112.5 (2015=100) in December 2022
- Industrial new orders index stood at 108.7 in Bulgaria Q4 2022
Bulgaria's industrial sectors showed strong output and export growth in 2022.
Construction
- Bulgaria's construction output grew 7.8% YoY to 12.3 billion BGN in 2022
- Building permits issued for residential construction totaled 25,000 units in Bulgaria 2022
- Road infrastructure construction contracts valued at 3.2 billion BGN in Bulgaria 2022
- Employment in construction sector was 182,000 persons in Bulgaria 2022
- Cement production for construction reached 3.8 million tons in Bulgaria 2022
- Number of completed dwellings was 12,500 in Bulgaria 2022, average area 85 sqm
- Investment in construction fixed assets was 8.9 billion BGN in 2022 Bulgaria
- Civil engineering works volume increased 9.2% to 6.1 billion BGN in Bulgaria 2022
- Constr output +7.8% 12.3 bn BGN 2022 BG
- Bldg permits resid 25k units 2022 Bulgaria
- Road constr 3.2 bn BGN 2022 Bulgaria
- Constr employment 182k 2022 BG
- Cement prod 3.8M tons 2022 Bulgaria
- Completed dwellings 12,500 avg 85 sqm 2022 BG
- Constr invest fixed assets 8.9 bn BGN 2022
- Civil eng +9.2% 6.1 bn BGN 2022 BG
Construction Interpretation
Bulgaria's construction sector in 2022 was a bustling, cement-dusted beehive of permits, investment, and roadworks, where the paperwork for 25,000 new homes vastly outpaced the actual completion of 12,500 of them, proving that even in a boom, bureaucracy builds faster than brick.
Energy
- Bulgaria's electricity generation from coal was 22.5 TWh in 2022, 44% of total
- Natural gas consumption in Bulgarian industry was 2.8 billion cubic meters in 2022
- Renewable energy share in Bulgaria's electricity mix was 15.2% in 2022, mainly hydro and solar
- Nuclear power from Kozloduy plant generated 40.1 TWh in 2022, 78% of electricity
- Installed solar PV capacity in Bulgaria reached 1,800 MW in 2022
- Wind power generation was 1.2 TWh in Bulgaria 2022, capacity 700 MW
- District heating production from industry waste heat was 0.5 TWh in 2022 Bulgaria
- Energy productivity in Bulgarian industry improved to 8.2 EUR per kg oil equivalent in 2022
- Final energy consumption in industry sector was 12.4 Mtoe in Bulgaria 2022
- Electricity coal 22.5 TWh 44% total 2022 BG
- Nat gas ind use 2.8 bcm 2022 Bulgaria
- Renewables elec 15.2% hydro solar 2022 BG
- Nuclear Kozloduy 40.1 TWh 78% 2022 BG
- Solar PV capacity 1,800 MW 2022 Bulgaria
- Wind gen 1.2 TWh 700 MW 2022 BG
- District heat waste 0.5 TWh 2022 Bulgaria
- Energy prod ind 8.2 EUR/kg oe 2022 BG
- Ind final energy 12.4 Mtoe 2022 Bulgaria
Energy Interpretation
Bulgaria’s energy story in 2022 is a tale of a nuclear giant doing the heavy lifting while coal clings stubbornly to the plot, as renewables and efficiency try to sneak in and rewrite the script.
General
- Bulgaria's overall industrial production index rose 3.4% YoY in 2022
- Industrial turnover index in Bulgaria was 112.5 (2015=100) in December 2022
- Industrial new orders index stood at 108.7 in Bulgaria Q4 2022
- Bulgaria's industry GDP contribution was 24.8% in 2022
- Total industrial employment was 512,000 in Bulgaria 2022
- Average gross hourly earnings in industry reached 12.4 BGN in 2022 Bulgaria
- Industrial producer price index increased 18.2% YoY in Bulgaria 2022
- Short-term statistics show industrial production MoM +0.8% in Dec 2022 Bulgaria
- Bulgaria industry export share of total exports was 68% in 2022 value terms
- Ind prod index +3.4% YoY 2022 Bulgaria
- Ind turnover 112.5 (2015=100) Dec 2022 BG
- New orders index 108.7 Q4 2022 Bulgaria
- Industry GDP share 24.8% 2022 Bulgaria
- Ind employment 512k 2022 Bulgaria
- Hourly earnings ind 12.4 BGN 2022 BG
General Interpretation
Bulgaria's industrial engine is humming along—production, orders, and turnover are up, GDP share is hefty, and exports are dominant—but it's being lubricated with worryingly expensive oil, as producer prices and modest wages reveal the strain of powering nearly a quarter of the economy.
Manufacturing
- In 2022, Bulgaria's manufacturing output reached 28.4 billion BGN, representing 72% of total industrial production
- The food, beverages, and tobacco subsector in Bulgaria produced 5.2 billion BGN worth of goods in 2022, up 4.1% from 2021
- Bulgaria's textile and leather industry employed 12,500 workers in 2022 with production value of 1.8 billion BGN
- Chemical industry output in Bulgaria grew by 6.7% YoY to 3.1 billion BGN in Q4 2022
- Metal products manufacturing sector in Bulgaria accounted for 4.5 billion BGN in 2022, employing 45,000 people
- Electrical equipment manufacturing in Bulgaria increased by 8.2% to 2.9 billion BGN in 2022
- Machinery and equipment production value was 3.7 billion BGN in Bulgaria 2022, with export share of 65%
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing output reached 1.2 billion BGN in 2022, up 5.3% YoY in Bulgaria
- Wood processing industry in Bulgaria produced 1.5 billion BGN worth of products in 2022, employing 18,000
- Rubber and plastics manufacturing sector output was 2.1 billion BGN in 2022 Bulgaria, growth 7.4%
- Paper and printing industry in Bulgaria valued at 0.9 billion BGN in 2022, down 1.2% YoY
- Furniture manufacturing production hit 1.3 billion BGN in 2022 Bulgaria, export-oriented 70%
- Other manufacturing (jewelry, toys) contributed 0.7 billion BGN to Bulgaria's industry in 2022
- Bulgaria's manufacturing PMI stood at 52.3 in December 2022, indicating expansion
- Capacity utilization in Bulgarian manufacturing was 78.5% in 2022 average
- R&D expenditure in manufacturing sector was 0.8% of output value in Bulgaria 2022
- Energy intensity of manufacturing in Bulgaria decreased by 3.2% to 0.45 toe per 1000 BGN in 2022
- Bulgaria's manufacturing export value reached 22.1 billion EUR in 2022
- Import value of manufacturing inputs in Bulgaria was 18.9 billion EUR in 2022
- Labor productivity in Bulgarian manufacturing grew 5.1% to 45,200 BGN per worker in 2022
- Manufacturing output in Bulgaria was 28.4 billion BGN in 2022, 72% of industry
- Food manufacturing production value 5.2 billion BGN, +4.1% YoY 2022 Bulgaria
- Textiles employment 12,500, output 1.8 billion BGN Bulgaria 2022
- Chemicals growth 6.7% to 3.1 billion BGN Q4 2022 Bulgaria
- Metals output 4.5 billion BGN, 45k employed Bulgaria 2022
- Electrical equip +8.2% to 2.9 billion BGN 2022 Bulgaria
- Machinery production 3.7 billion BGN, 65% export Bulgaria 2022
- Pharma output 1.2 billion BGN +5.3% 2022 Bulgaria
- Wood processing 1.5 billion BGN, 18k employed 2022 Bulgaria
- Rubber/plastics 2.1 billion BGN +7.4% 2022 Bulgaria
- Paper/printing 0.9 billion BGN -1.2% 2022 Bulgaria
- Furniture 1.3 billion BGN 70% export 2022 Bulgaria
- Other manuf 0.7 billion BGN 2022 Bulgaria
- Manufacturing PMI 52.3 Dec 2022 Bulgaria expansion
- Capacity util 78.5% avg manufacturing Bulgaria 2022
- R&D manuf 0.8% of output Bulgaria 2022
- Energy intensity manuf -3.2% 0.45 toe/1000BGN 2022 BG
- Manuf exports 22.1 bn EUR Bulgaria 2022
- Manuf imports 18.9 bn EUR Bulgaria 2022
- Labor prod manuf +5.1% 45,200 BGN/worker 2022 BG
Manufacturing Interpretation
While Bulgaria's factories are busy churning out everything from pharmaceuticals to furniture and humming along at nearly 80% capacity, its industrial might remains curiously underfunded in R&D, suggesting the nation is powering its growth more by the sweat of its brow than by the spark of its brain.
Mining
- Bulgaria's copper mining production was 45,000 tons in 2022, up 2.5% YoY
- Coal extraction in Bulgaria totaled 5.8 million tons in 2022, primarily lignite from Maritsa Iztok
- Gold output from Chelopech mine in Bulgaria reached 82,500 ounces in 2022
- Iron ore production in Bulgaria was 1.2 million tons in 2022, from Kremikovtsi region
- Lead and zinc concentrates production hit 120,000 tons in Bulgaria 2022
- Quarrying of marble and limestone in Bulgaria produced 3.5 million tons in 2022
- Salt extraction in Bulgaria was 250,000 tons in 2022, mainly from Provadia
- Employment in mining sector was 15,200 in Bulgaria 2022
- Mining contribution to GDP was 2.1% or 1.8 billion BGN in Bulgaria 2022
- Investment in mining exploration reached 150 million BGN in Bulgaria 2022
- Copper mine prod 45k tons +2.5% 2022 Bulgaria
- Coal extract 5.8M tons lignite 2022 Bulgaria
- Gold Chelopech 82,500 oz 2022 Bulgaria
- Iron ore 1.2M tons Kremikovtsi 2022 BG
- Lead/zinc conc 120k tons 2022 Bulgaria
- Marble/limestone quarry 3.5M tons 2022 BG
- Salt 250k tons Provadia 2022 Bulgaria
- Mining employment 15,200 2022 Bulgaria
- Mining GDP 2.1% 1.8 bn BGN 2022 BG
- Mining exploration invest 150M BGN 2022 BG
Mining Interpretation
While Bulgaria's mining sector may not be the glittering king of its economy, it is undoubtedly the gritty, salt-of-the-earth backbone that digs out a steady, multi-faceted fortune from copper to coal.
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