Bulgaria's wine exports registered a 6.6% increase in the first quarter of 2011 year-on-year, according to the Bulgarian Executive Agency on Vine and Wine.

In the first three months of 2011, Bulgaria exported a total of 10.375 million liters of wine, about 638 000 liters more than the 9.737 million liters in the first quarter of 2010.

The data of the Executive Agency on Vine and Wine indicate a slight shift in Bulgaria's wine export markets from Western Europe to Russia and the Balkans.

Thus, in January-March 2011 Bulgaria exported a total of 6.288 million liters of wine to Russia, an increase of 22.7%, or 1.162 million liters, compared with 2010 Q1 (5.126 million liters).

Bulgaria's wine exports to Romania registered a tremendous growth of 223.4% year-on-year, as did the exports to the Czech Republic with an increase of 107.6%, and to Mongolia – up by 101%.

Bulgaria's wine exports to some of its traditionally strong markets – Poland, the UK, and Germany – as well as Belgium, Latvia, and Lithuania – has declined.

At the same time, Bulgaria's domestic market of wine has registered a massive increase in 2011 Q1 compared with the first quarter of 2010.

A total of 25.854 million liters of wine were sold on Bulgaria's domestic market in the first three months of 2011 compared with only 15.479 million liters in 2010 Q1, an increase of 67%.