Bulgaria: Brewers invest nearly $45 mln in beer and malt production in 2024

Bulgarian brewers invested nearly 80 million levs ($44.9 million/40.9 million euro) in beer and malt production in 2024, which was 40% more compared to the previous year, the Union of Brewers in Bulgaria (UBB) said on April 8.

The sector contributed over 435 million levs in budget revenue from beer production and sales last year, while its added value stood at 470 million levs, the UBB said in a press release.

Beer sales in Bulgaria totalled 5.16 million hectolitres in 2024. Local brewers expanded their portfolios with 15 new products in the past year.

Brewers also continued to adopt sustainable practices, with green investments reaching 6 million levs in 2024. Key priorities included improving resource efficiency, circular use and waste reduction, particularly in packaging.

A key priority for the industry is the planned introduction of a nationwide deposit return system for beverage packaging, in line with EU requirements already adopted by 15 member states. A working group led by the environment ministry, with active participation from the UBB and the Bulgarian Soft Drinks Association, is drafting the relevant legislation.

"We expect a draft law on the deposit system to be ready by the end of April, which, after the relevant procedures, will be adopted by the National Assembly," UBB executive director Ivana Radomirova said.

The UBB's members, who produce 99% of the country’s beer, include major Bulgarian brewing companies such as Bolyarka - VT, Britos, Zagorka, Kamenitza, Carlsberg Bulgaria, Lomsko Pivo and Dorovski Invest.

(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)

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