Bulgaria: Selling and Buying

Reaching the Consumers

Marketing Opportunities

Consumer Behavior

The Bulgarian consumer still prefers to use the local store near their homes. There are three major factors, which influence the choice of the place for shopping: the proximity to the home and the working place; the level of prices; and the range of goods.
The Bulgarian consumer is still not very mobile – fewer than 30 per cent of consumers go shopping by automobile, which limits the choice of stores.
Price is a major consideration in developing a market strategy.

Consumer Profile and Purchasing Power

Although Bulgaria has experienced growth for the last 10 years, the country remains one of the EU’s poorest countries with limited consumer disposable income.

Consumers Associations

BNAP , Bulgarian national consumers association

Main Advertising Agencies

List of advertising agencies in the country

Distributing a Product

Market Shares

Market leaders are Metro, Billa and Fantastico.

Organizations in the Retail Sector

Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce
Franchising in Bulgaria

Market Access Procedures

International Conventions

Member of World Trade Organisation
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Wassenaar arrangement on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
Party of the International Coffee Agreement 2001

Main International Economic Cooperation

Bulgaria is member of : the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, etc.
For further information, please consult the website of the Ministry of Economy of Bulgaria.

Non Tariff Barriers

Bulgaria's trade policy is the same as those of other members of the European Union. Non-tariff barriers include agricultural and manufacturing subsidies, import restrictions for some goods and services, market access restrictions in some service sectors, non-transparent and restrictive regulations and standards, and inconsistent customs administration across EU members.
For further information, consult the Country Commercial guide "Doing Business in Bulgaria" by Buyusa.

Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports

20% for non european countries.

List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs duties and local taxes.

Customs Classification

Bulgaria joined the EU on January 1, 2007 and became part of the EU customs union. Bulgaria applies the Harmonised Customs system on the basis of the TARIC classification.

Import Procedures

Goods are declared by a customs declaration. Besides the customs declaration, the other required documents by the customs authorities are an invoice, certificate of origin, transport documents, etc. A veterinary or phyto-sanitary certificate is necessary for goods of animal or plant origin.
For further information visit the website of Bulgaria customs.
You can also consult the Country Commercial guide "Doing Business in Bulgaria" by Buyusa.


As part of the "SAFE" standards advocated by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union has set up a new system of import controls, the "Import Control System" (ICS), which aims to secure the flow of goods at the time of their entry into the customs territory of the EU. This control system, part of the Community Program eCustomer, has been in effect since January 1, 2011. Since then, operators are required to pass an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to the customs of the country of entry, prior to the introduction of goods into the customs territory of the European Union.

Importing Samples

Samples are subject to the same procedures.  The customs officials are authorised to seize a sample of merchandise in order to analyze it.

For Further Information

Customs office

Organizing Goods Transport

Main Useful Means of Transport

Bulgaria is well-situated, between Western europe and Turkey however the roads and railways are badly maintained. The train remains the best way to transport goods in the country.
A bilateral agreement on transport of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport between Bulgaria and the European Community was signed in July 2000. With regard to goods transport, the bilateral agreement establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport entered into force in 2001.
However, the capacity of the Ministry of Transport to prepare, manage and monitor trans-European network projects is still inadequate.

Ports

The site of Burgas's port
The site of Varna's port

Airports

Sofia Airport

Sea Transport Organizations

"Executive agency" Port administration
Ministry of Transport Bulgaria

Air Transport Organizations

Bulgarian Air traffic Authority

Road Transport Organizations

Ministry of transport

Rail Transport Organizations

Bulgarian State Railways

Identifying a Supplier

Type of Production

The industrial sector represents 30% of economic activity in Bulgaria and employs 30% of the active population.  Principal industrial activities are centred on electrity, gas, chemical products, nuclear energy and the petroleum industry.

To search directories by industry in Bulgaria, check out our service Business directories.

Manufacturers Associations of the Main Industries

7 professional associations listed for Bulgaria.
Choose your sector AutomotiveChemicals, pharmaceutical productsCommerce, retail, wholesaleComputers and telecommunicationsFurniture, household equipment and artsTextile, ready-to-wear, accessoriesTourism, sports, leisure, restaurant & hotels

Trade Agencies and Their Representations Abroad

Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Enterprises Federation

Bulgarian Industrial Association
Confederation of the industrialists and employers in Bulgaria

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