Critical decline in Bulgarian industry
The sustained decline in industrial production in Bulgaria, which began as early as the start of 2023, continued in May 2026. Our country occupies second place for the largest decrease in output in the entire European Union, surpassed only by Ireland.
According to Eurostat data, Bulgarian industrial production shrank by 4.7% on an annual basis in May, with the trend remaining negative for most of the last few months.
Key findings from the report:
- EU Comparison: While the decline in the Eurozone is 1.2%, Bulgaria is reporting significantly more serious difficulties.
- Dynamics: After a short-lived growth in March 2026, the sector has entered a downward spiral once again.
- Sector specifics: The decrease affects both durable and non-durable consumer goods.
NSI data confirm the negative trends, recording a decrease of 0.2% on a monthly basis. Experts are monitoring closely whether the industry will be able to find the strength for recovery in the second half of the year.