Bulgaria has emerged as a key player in the transit and re-export of Ukrainian agricultural commodities, including sunflower seeds, since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. The country's domestic sunflower crushing industry has experienced a surge, resulting in a significant increase in the production of Sunflower Oil (SFOil). During the September to November 2022 period, Ukraine's share in Bulgaria's sunflower seed imports exceeded 73%. This trend has positioned Bulgaria as a significant player in the sunflower and SFOil markets, despite these markets being largely dominated by Ukraine and other Black Sea countries. Bulgarian businesses are planning to expand their crushing capacities, which is expected to further intensify competition in these markets.