Bulgaria
Bulgaria ranked seventh in the production of bismuth metal
Pictured: Silver-bismuth ore
Statistics and information on the mining industry in Bulgaria.
Overview
In 2024, Bulgaria ranked 7th in the world in the production of bismuth metal, 8th in the production of tellurium metal (not including United States production) and in the production of vermiculite, 9th in the production of industrial sand and gravel, 12th in the production of cadmium metal, 18th in the production of lime (tied with the United Kingdom), and 19th in the production of salt (tied with the United Kingdom). The country’s share of world production of vermiculite was 2.1%; industrial sand and gravel, 2.0%; cadmium metal, 1.7%; salt, 0.9%; bismuth metal and lime, 0.3% each; and tellurium metal, 0.1%. Other mineral commodities mined or produced in the country were aluminum, barite, bentonite, cement, clays, copper, gold, kaolin, lead, manganese, raw steel, steel products, salt, silver, sulfur, zeolites, and zinc. The output of the mining industry accounted for about 3.2% of the total value of industrial sector production.
Bulgaria exported copper cathodes to China and European Union (EU) member countries, the Republic of Korea, and Turkey; copper products to EU member countries; lead ingots to EU countries and Turkey; and zinc to Belarus, EU member countries, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. Bulgaria exported copper; bauxite and alumina; gem diamonds and gemstones; iron and steel mill products; iron and steel products; nonferrous metals; nonmetallic minerals; nonmonetary gold; other precious metals; stone, sand, cement, etc.; sulfur; and zinc to the United States. Bulgaria imported aluminum and alumina, gem diamonds, iron and steel mill products, nonferrous metals, nonmonetary gold, nonmetallic minerals, and precious metals from the United States.
The Ministry of Energy was responsible for the transparency of energy policy, improving energy infrastructure, managing mineral resources, protecting customers’ interests, and developing nuclear energy. The Council of Ministers approved the licenses for mining and exploration and after approval the Ministry of Energy issued the licenses. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Bulgaria was provided by the Underground Natural Resource Act (amendment and supply SG 67/15 August 2025), regulated exploration, granting permits, and concessions in the underground resource sector. The Concessions Act of April 15, 2016 (SG No. 13/16.02.2016), regulates the performance, procedure, terms, and termination of concessions. Most mineral commodities were produced by privately owned companies.
2024 Report
Full data release with tables here.
In 2024, Bulgaria ranked 7th in the world in the production of bismuth metal, 8th in the production of tellurium metal (not including United States production) and in the production of vermiculite, 9th in the production of industrial sand and gravel, 12th in the production of cadmium metal, 18th in the production of lime (tied with the United Kingdom), and 19th in the production of salt (tied with the United Kingdom). The country’s share of world production of vermiculite was 2.1%; industrial sand and gravel, 2.0%; cadmium metal, 1.7%; salt, 0.9%; bismuth metal and lime, 0.3% each; and tellurium metal, 0.1%. Other mineral commodities mined or produced in the country were aluminum, barite, bentonite, cement, clays, copper, gold, kaolin, lead, manganese, raw steel, steel products, salt, silver, sulfur, zeolites, and zinc. The output of the mining industry accounted for about 3.2% of the total value of industrial sector production. Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). Bulgaria exported copper cathodes to China and European Union (EU) member countries, the Republic of Korea, and Turkey; copper products to EU member countries; lead ingots to EU countries and Turkey; and zinc to Belarus, EU member countries, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. Bulgaria exported copper; bauxite and alumina; gem diamonds, and gemstones; iron and steel mill products; iron and steel products; nonferrous metals; nonmetallic minerals; nonmonetary gold; other precious metals; stone, sand, cement, etc.; sulfur; and zinc to the United States. Bulgaria imported aluminum and alumina, gem diamonds, iron and steel mill products, nonferrous metals, nonmonetary gold, nonmetallic minerals, and precious metals from the United States (Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry, 2025, p. 74–75; U.S. Census Bureau, 2025; Callaghan, 2026; Flanagan, 2026; Goodin, 2026; Klochko, 2026; MacGregor, 2026a, b; National Statistical Institute, 2025, p. 181; Simmons, 2026).
The Ministry of Energy was responsible for the transparency of energy policy, improving energy infrastructure, managing mineral resources, protecting customers’ interests, and developing nuclear energy. The Council of Ministers approved the licenses for mining and exploration and after approval the Ministry of Energy issued the licenses. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Bulgaria was provided by the Underground Natural Resource Act (amendment and supply SG 67/15 August 2025), regulated exploration, granting permits, and concessions in the underground resource sector. The Concessions Act of April 15, 2016, (SG No. 13/16.02.2016), regulated the performance, procedure, terms, and termination of concessions. Mineral commodities were produced by privately owned companies. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of Government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports — International — Europe and Central Eurasia Region, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/europ… (European Commission, 2017, p. 5; Ministry of Energy, undated a, p. 1; undated b–d).
Commodity Review
Cadmium and Tellurium.—In 2024, production of tellurium metal increased by 52% to 1,652 kilograms (kg) from 1,087 kg in 2023; cadmium metal, by 24% to 379 metric tons (t) from 306 t. KCM A.D., a subsidiary of Holding KCM 2000 Group, was one of the leading producers of lead and zinc, bismuth, cadmium, and tellurium in Bulgaria. India received 386 t of cadmium and articles, which is 100% of Bulgaria’s total exports of cadmium and articles compared with that in 2023 (Facilities table; Production table; Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry, 2025, p. 53, 58, 63; Trade Data Monitor LLC, 2025).
Salt.—In 2024, production of salt decreased by 3.7% to 2,600,000 t (estimated) from 2,700,000 t (estimated) in 2023, owing to availability of low-cost imported salt from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Greece, Germany, Turkey, Tunisia, and so forth. The leading export partners for salt in 2024 were Ukraine (which received 47% of Bulgaria’s salt exports, 677 t), Romania (26%), and the United Kingdom (9%). Black Sea Salt Pans AD was the only producer of salt from Atanasovsko lake reserves in Bulgaria (Facilities table; Production table; Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry, 2025, p. 53, 58, 63; Mirogled.com, 2025; Trade Data Monitor LLC, 2025).
Production Table
(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)
| Commodity | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum, secondary, metal | 16,343 | 4,214 | 13,217 | 13,603 | 17,487 |
| Barite | 41,000e1 | 72,000e1 | 75,000e1 | 59,000e1 | 80,000e1 |
| Bentonite | 44,000e | 47,000e | 45,000e | 41,000e | 52,000e |
| Bismuth, refinery, metal | 48e | 47e | 46e | 48e | 48e |
| Cadmium, refinery, primary | 311 | 343 | 315 | 306 | 379 |
| Cement, hydraulic | 1,999,877 | 1,989,255 | 1,951,982 | 1,986,477 | 2,034,748 |
| Copper, mine, concentrates, Cu content | 107,610 | 104,020 | 121,120 | 121,130 | 120,000e |
| Copper, refinery, primary, electrolytic, Cu content | 195,700 | 187,500 | 201,600 | 199,100 | 204,000 |
| Copper, refinery, secondary, electrolytic, Cu content | 29,200 | 30,500 | 27,500 | 29,700 | 25,000 |
| Copper, smelter, primary, Cu content | 291,500 | 262,000 | 318,900 | 267,800 | 318,700 |
| Copper, smelter, secondary, Cu content | 43,800 | 36,700 | 45,300 | 40,900 | 46,300 |
| Gold, mine, concentrates, Au content (kilograms) | 11,300 | 10,900 | 8,995 | 10,915 | 10,000e |
| Gypsum, crude, including anhydrite | 44,000e | 52,000e | 57,000e | 50,000e | 50,000e |
| Kaolin | 153,000e | 152,000e | 167,000e | 194,000e | 201,269 |
| Lead, mine, Pb content | 37,146 | 35,160 | 40,926 | 35,097 | 57,413 |
| Lead, refinery, primary | 72,992 | 71,822 | 69,709 | 44,542 | 74,367 |
| Lead, refinery, secondary | 33,153 | 32,673 | 33,719 | 48,032 | 68,780 |
| Lime, industrial | 1,278,104 | 1,521,342 | 1,415,534 | 1,308,484 | 1,300,000e |
| Manganese, mine, ore | 0 | 24,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manganese, mine, ore, 25% to 35% mn, Mn content | 0 | 7,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nitrogen, ammonia, N content | 230,000e | 282,000 | 222,000 | 198,000 | 180,000e |
| Raw steel | 484,000 | 548,000 | 481,500 | 489,000 | 450,000 |
| Salt, all types | 3,000,000e | 3,000,000e | 3,300,000e | 2,700,000e | 2,600,000e |
| Sand and gravel, industrial, quartz | 950,000e | 950,000e | 950,000e | 950,000e | 998,000e |
| Sand and gravel, industrial, sand | 7,197,245 | 7,518,088 | 7,123,206 | 7,206,857 | 7,770,367 |
| Silver, mine, Ag content (kilograms) | 39,126 | 38,661 | 26,437 | 22,800 | 43,000e |
| Silver, refinery, Ag content (kilograms) | 32,760 | 31,816 | 20,247 | 15,261 | 32,490 |
| Steel products, rolled, flat | 930,800 | 1,049,800 | 963,500 | 1,027,500 | 988,600 |
| Stone, crushed, chalk, including dolomite | 167,472 | 218,077 | 204,217 | 204,000e | 210,000e |
| Stone, crushed, limestone, flux for cement production | 5,587,972 | 6,263,862 | 7,025,264 | 5,812,644 | 5,816,493 |
| Stone, size and shape unspecified, granite, including sandstone and other building material | 3,501,846 | 4,000,000e | 4,265,555 | 4,458,251 | 2,241,445 |
| Sulfur, compounds, sulfuric acid, S content | 1,519,940 | 1,328,712 | 1,576,459 | 1,320,394 | 1,487,708 |
| Tellurium, refinery, Te content (kilograms) | 3,676 | 2,797 | 2,790 | 1,087 | 1,652 |
| Vermiculite, concentrates | 10,000e | 10,000e | 10,000e | 10,000e | 10,000e |
| Zinc, mine, Zn content | 16,000 | 15,000 | 14,000 | 15,000 | 14,000 |
| Zinc, smelter, primary | 74,520 | 72,418 | 78,681 | 72,324 | 69,695 |
References Cited
- Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry, 2025, Metalurgiyata v B”lgaria 2024 godina [Metallurgy in Bulgaria 2024]: Sofia, Bulgaria, Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry, 82 p. (Accessed December 3, 2025, at https://bami.bg/media/docs/%20%D0%B2%20%D0%91%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B3%D0%B0%D….) [In Bulgarian.]
- Callaghan, R.M., 2026, Cadmium: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 60−61.
- European Commission, 2017, MINLEX-Bulgaria country report: Brussels, Belgium, European Commission, May, 48 p. (Accessed January 12, 2026, at https://rmis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/uploads/cprofiles/MINLEX_CountryReport_BG….)
- Flanagan, D.M., 2026, Tellurium: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 188−189.
- Goodin, R.C., 2026, Sand and gravel (industrial): U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 164−165.
- Klochko, Kateryna, 2026, Bismuth: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 54−55.
- MacGregor, JohnRyan, 2026a, Lime: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 116−117.
- MacGregor, JohnRyan, 2026b, Salt: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 160−161.
- Ministry of Energy, [undated]a, Concessions Act: Sofia, Bulgaria, Ministry of Energy, 72 p. (Accessed December 3, 2025, at https://www.me.government.bg/en/library/concessions-act-556-c25-m1515-2….)
- Ministry of Energy, [undated]b, Mission and goals: Sofia, Bulgaria, Ministry of Energy. (Accessed December 3, 2025, at https://www.me.government.bg/en/pages/mission-6.html.)
- Ministry of Energy, [undated]c, Registration and licensing services: Sofia, Bulgaria, Ministry of
- Energy. (Accessed December 3, 2025, at https://www.me.government.bg/en/services-c36-1.html.)
- Ministry of Energy, [undated]d, Underground Natural Resources Act: Sofia, Bulgaria, Ministry of Energy. (Accessed December 3, 2025, at https://www.me.government.bg/en/library/underground-resources-act-321-c….)
- Mirogeld.com, 2025, B”lgarskata morska sol izchezha ot magazinite [Bulgarian sea salt disappeared from stores]: Mirogled.com, October 19. (Accessed December 18, 2025, at https://mirogled.com/news-view/bielgarskata-morska-sol-izcezna-ot-magaz….) [In Bulgarian.]
- National Statistical Institute, 2025, Statistical reference book 2025: Sofia, Bulgaria, National Statistical Institute, August 13, 311 p. (Accessed January 14, 2026, at https://www.nsi.bg/en/file/30660/StatBook2025.pdf.)
- Simmons, K.J., 2026, Vermiculite: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 204−205.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2025, Country and production data—Product details and partner country—Country by 5-digit end-use code, annual totals, 2012–present: Suitland, Maryland, U.S. Census Bureau. (Accessed August 6, 2025, at https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/country/index.html.)
- Trade Data Monitor LLC, 2025, Trade Data Monitor database: Charleston, South Carolina, Trade Data Monitor LLC. (Accessed December 17, 2025, via https://www1.tdmlogin.com/tdm/default.asp.)
Publications
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