October 11, 2021

Bulgaria' swine numbers recover from ASF impact, says USDA

Bulgaria's swine and sow inventories increased from a record low level after the losses resulting from African swine fever (ASF) in 2019, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

The swine inventory grew by over 20% and the number of sows by 29% at the end of 2020 compared to 2019. Most of this growth was due to strong imports of live animals in 2020.

Pork continues to be Bulgaria's most widely produced and consumed red meat. However, due to the negative impact of ASF in 2020, pork production declined by more than 20%.

During the first five months of 2021, with a higher inventory and strong consumer demand driven by tourism and food industry recovery, commercial hog slaughter was higher resulting in a 12% increase in pork production over the same period in 2020.

Most ASF-affected commercial farms have repopulated, encouraged by favorable demand and prices, despite the pandemic. It is projected that pork production will grow by 10-11% in 2021 versus 2020. However, the main challenge for the industry has been the increasing prices of feed grains and energy and shrinking profit margins.

In 2020, pork consumption declined by 5%.

In 2021, higher imports and increased local production are projected to result in a 3-5% increase in pork consumption. A rebound in consumption is expected further in 2022, pending a favorable epizootic situation.

- USDA