Grain producers are calling a protest, after We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria (PP/DB), GERB, plus the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) proposed allowing the import of Ukrainian grain into Bulgaria after 15 September.  

•  PP-DB, GERB and MRF propose lifting ban on grain imports from Ukraine
• Bulgaria has lost its 3rd place as wheat exporter in the EU

According to the grain producers, they will sustain serious losses because of the dumping prices of Ukrainian grain. Ilia Prodanov, chairman of the Grain Producers Association warned: “The survival of stockbreeding, grain production and bee-keeping is at stake – all of these sectors are subject to enormous pressure and dumping from Ukraine.” Bulgaria imposed a ban on the import of grain from Ukraine in April. The European Commission promised support to farmers but no support has been given, the grain producers claim.

Since the ban was put in place, Sofia Commodity Exchange data indicate a wide divergence of the price expectations of buyers and sellers, and there are practically no deals because neither of the sides is making a compromise.

• The Oilseed Oil Producers Association calls for urgent measures to provide Bulgaria’s oil processing industry access to sunflower seeds, including by lifting the ban on imports, while grain producers want the grain ban to be extended after 15 September

Meanwhile oilseed oil producers in Bulgaria say they are having to close down their factories because they do not have a sufficient amount of raw material to process. Finance Minister Assen Vassilev stated that because of the ban on the transit of Ukrainian grain, the budget has lost EUR 82 million in uncollected taxes.