Browse Data and Analysis

Uruguayan beef exports in 2025 are forecast to remain unchanged at 475,000 tons carcass weight equivalent (cwe). The final volume will depend on how active Chinese buyers are the remainder of the year and FOB prices. Exports to the United States are projected to remain high.

The Bulgarian livestock industry is experiencing strong production growth in 2024, following the expansion of swine numbers and commercial cattle numbers in 2023.

FAS/Sofia expects growth in Bulgarian poultry production in 2024, driven by declining feed/production costs and improving competitiveness, as well as by continued growth in consumer incomes, travel, and tourism.

In 2023 Bulgarian dairy farming stabilized with a growth in milk deliveries. This was due to improved milk yields despite continued decline in the dairy cow herd, and due to record high fluid milk imports.

Uruguayan beef exports in 2024 are forecast slightly up at 467,000 tons carcass weight equivalent as a result of a projected larger beef output with a marginal increase in the domestic demand.

In 2021 and 2022 to date, the Bulgarian livestock industry has successfully recovered following the 2019 African Swine Fever (ASF) crisis. The major challenges in 2021/2022 were related to sharply increasing feed grain and energy prices, skyrocketing inflation, and fluctuations in consumer demand related to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Bulgaria’s poultry sector had a recovery period in marketing year (MY) 2021 with slight growth. Despite sharply increased feed prices, the pandemic’s negative impact on the hospitality and tourism sectors has waned and the export market has slightly improved. This led to an increase in poultry inventory, and higher poultry and broiler meat output.

The Bulgarian dairy industry faced significant challenges in Marketing Year (MY) 2021 with the national dairy herd, cow milk production and collection, as well as processing contracting. A dry and hot summer, combined with increasing feed grain prices, inflation pressure (especially of energy supply), and a labor deficit led to a decline in the number of dairy farms and stocks. Consolidation and restructuring of the industry continued through the dominating role of larger, more efficient dairy operations.

The Uruguayan beef and cattle industry is in very good economic condition. Strong foreign demand and very high export prices are benefiting all parts of the value chain with cow-calf and cattle finishing operations seeing strong, positive returns. 2023 cattle slaughter is projected at 2.56 million head, the third year in a row with high numbers.