Bulgaria's Port Varna EAD expects an increase in grain exports in 2013.

According to the press office of the port, as cited by investor.bg, in July 2013 the port processed around 450 000 tonnes of grain cargo, including wheat, barley, corn, etc. Only in the first seven days of August, the strongest month for grain exports, nearly 238 000 tonnes were exported through Port Varna.

Port Varna processes grain cargo year-round.

Port Varna has processed grain exports in all months of 2013 so far.

The main export destinations are EU countries like Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, as well as other countries like Lebanon, Libya, and Saudi Arabia.

In a medium-term perspective, the Port Varna EAD company has developed a program for improving grain cargo processing equipment. The port operator explains that they are doing their best to prevent an accumulation of grain trucks pending processing.

Meanwhile, grain producers say that purchase prices of wheat have not changed, settling at BGN 260 – 270 per tonne, according to Radoslav Hristov from the National Association of Grain Producers (NAGP) and the price including transportation of the goods to the port of shipment amounting to BGN 290 – 300 per tonne.

According to recent data of Bulgaria's Agricultural Ministry, 99.2% of the wheat has been harvested.

Wheat production amounts to 4,789 million tones, the average yield being 423 kg per decare.

The winter barley harvest has been completed, with 696 000 tonnes of grain collected and an average yield of 377 kg per decare.

A total of 96.97% of the rapeseed harvest has been collected, the average yield being 238 kg per decare, as well as 93,16% of the rye harvest, the average yield amounting to 189kg per decare.

According to data of Bulgaria's National Grain and Feed Service, 65.41% of the wheat harvest has good baking characteristics for producing bread.