Bulgaria reaped 4.5 million tonnes of wheat from 89 percent of the sown area by August 7, below the year-earlier tonnage of 4.7 million due to heavy rains and floods this year, the agriculture ministry said on Monday. "The recent rains have delayed the harvest in north-western Bulgaria. The crop was completely damaged in some areas, but the complete estimate of the damage will be made in the autumn," the ministry said in an emailed answer to Reuters questions.
The national association of grain producers has said Bulgaria will be able to meet its domestic demand for wheat, which is about two million tonnes, and keep exports strong but has expressed concerns over the quality of the grain. Bulgaria usually ships its grain to Spain, Italy and Portugal. Despite the unfavourable weather the Black Sea country harvested 796,000 tonnes of barley from 98.5 percent of the sown area, against 696,000 tonnes in 2013, the ministry said.