In Bulgaria, only softwood from timber-yards is exported. Small hand-made wooden articles, such as bowls, platters, lids, and boxes, were also exported in the late 19th century:
1895: 174,000 kilograms worth 46,000 francs
1896: 113,000 kilograms worth 36,000 francs
1897: 71,000 kilograms worth 33,000 francs
1898: 72,000 kilograms worth 18,000 francs
1899: 67,000 kilograms worth 17,000 francs
The total exported during these five years was 497,000 kilograms with a value of 140,000 francs.
During the same period, Bulgaria imported 722,000 kilograms of wooden articles worth 250,000 francs, averaging 144,000 kilograms per year, valued at 50,000 francs.
Timber Production by Forest Type
It is important to examine the quantity of timber produced annually in Bulgaria, according to forest ownership and usage. The data below shows timber felled in recent years, classified by type:
State Forests
Year Building Material (m³) Fuel (m³) Charcoal (kg)
1901 56,431 190,287 1,244,806
1902 94,676 206,823 1,246,336
1903 87,301 209,873 1,438,351
Parish Forests
Year Building Material (m³) Fuel (m³) Charcoal (kg)
1901 98,489 346,582 3,397,829
1902 160,357 639,058 3,911,189
1903 131,950 564,985 4,362,816
Private Property
Year Building Material (m³) Fuel (m³) Charcoal (kg)
1901 116,225 509,360 1,350,474
1902 100,921 686,232 1,357,471
1903 142,694 590,461 757,005
Illegal Timber Cutting
In addition to these official figures, a considerable amount of timber is cut illegally. This contraband activity is not recorded in official statistics but contributes significantly to the total timber removed from Bulgarian forests Balkan Tours.