The industrial production index decreased by 6.8 percent on an annual basis in July this year. This is the fourth consecutive month of annual decline, after the previous three months reported decreases of 2.5 percent, 5.3 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. On a monthly basis, the industrial production index contracted by 3 percent compared to the previous month of June, according to preliminary seasonally adjusted data. On an annual basis, a decline in industrial production was recorded in the extractive industry - by 36.1 percent and in the manufacturing industry - by 7.3 percent, while an increase was observed in the production and distribution of electricity, heat and gas - by 16.7 percent. In the manufacturing industry, a significant decline compared to July 2025 was registered in: the production of metal products, excluding machinery and equipment - by 29.5 percent, in the processing of leather; the production of footwear and other articles of treated leather without hair - by 25.9 percent, the production of vehicles, excluding automobiles - by 23.3 percent, and in manufacturing, not classified elsewhere - by 20.9 percent. Growth was recorded in the production of tobacco products - by 50.6 percent, and in the production of computer and communication equipment, electronic and optical products - by 16.3 percent. In July 2026, compared to June 2026, a decrease was recorded in the manufacturing industry - by 4.4 percent, while growth was recorded in the extractive industry - by 9.5 percent, and in the production and distribution of electricity, heat and gas - by 5.2 percent. A more significant decline in the manufacturing industry was recorded in the production of vehicles, excluding automobiles - by 27.3 percent, and in the production of computer and communication equipment, electronic and optical products - by 18.4 percent. Growth was reported in the production of tobacco products - by 16.9 percent, the repair and installation of machinery and equipment - by 9.3 percent, and the production of medicinal substances and products - by 8.5 percent.

In Bulgaria, agricultural product prices fell by an average of 2.64 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to Eurostat data. This placed the country third in terms of the smallest decline among the 20 EU nations where agricultural products became cheaper. In the first quarter, the average price of agricultural products in Bulgaria had decreased by 3 percent, according to the European statistical agency. Regarding the prices of production inputs for Bulgarian farmers, Eurostat recorded an average increase of 8.35 percent, following a year-on-year rise of 0.8 percent in the first quarter. In the second quarter of 2026, the sharpest drops in agricultural product prices within the EU were seen in Denmark (17.2 percent), Ireland (16.2 percent), Latvia and Estonia (14.5 percent each), and Luxembourg and Lithuania (14.2 percent each). The highest price growth rates were recorded in Croatia and Malta (3.9 percent each) and Cyprus (3.5 percent). The average price of non-investment production inputs in the sector rose across all EU countries. The sharpest increases in the cost of agricultural inputs were recorded in Lithuania (16.4%), Romania (11.7%), and Latvia (9.7%), while the smallest increases were in Hungary and Portugal (1.2% each) and Malta (1.5%). Among major EU agricultural products, the average price of milk saw the steepest decline—falling by 16.6% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026—followed by cereals, which dropped by 5.6%. Among key goods and services used in agriculture, the average price of energy and lubricants in the EU rose by 22%, while the price of fertilizers and soil improvers increased by 13.4%. The average price of agricultural products in the European Union fell by 5.8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. This downward trend in agricultural produce prices has persisted for three consecutive quarters. Meanwhile, the cost of agricultural inputs—including goods and services consumed in farming, such as energy, fertilizers, and animal feed—rose by an average of 4.7% over the same period. Input prices in the sector remained relatively stable throughout 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.

Bulgarian space company EnduroSat and European Arianespace have signed a memorandum of understanding, with which they plan to deepen their cooperation in the field of space services. The goal is to create a European chain of services for satellite missions - from the launch of satellites to their deployment and management in orbit. The partnership will be aimed primarily at European institutional missions, but will also serve commercial customers. As part of the agreement, EnduroSat plans to use Arianespace's services for satellite launches from 2029. The company intends to deploy its customers' satellites via the Ariane 64 rocket, including for European institutional and commercial missions. The partnership will combine EnduroSat's experience in the design, deployment and management of satellite missions with Arianespace's capabilities in the field of rocket launches. The two companies say their goal is to provide Europe with more reliable and independent access to space and to contribute to the development of a competitive European space industry. The agreement is part of Europe's broader efforts to reduce its dependence on space services and technologies from outside the continent and to strengthen its own satellite launch and management capabilities.

The Sofia Municipal Council has approved a loan of €367 million. The funds will be used to procure 200 new buses, 75 trolleybuses, 20 trams, and 50 electric buses. The financing is also designated for the construction, reconstruction, and major overhaul of key boulevards and streets within Sofia's primary road network. The loan will support the implementation of key infrastructure projects and the modernization of Sofia's public transport system. It will be secured through two financial institutions: the European Investment Bank is expected to provide up to €183 million, while the remainder will be sourced from another financial or credit institution. A selection process will follow to choose the institution that will finance the second tranche.

The state-owned company "Automagistrali" EAD has purchased machines for installing guardrails and will begin replacing damaged and missing guardrails on the "Hemus" highway and elsewhere. As soon as the Radev cabinet came to power, the MRDPW terminated a public procurement for over 1 billion leva for the replacement of guardrails throughout the country due to the suspicion that the conditions were deliberately written in favor of certain manufacturers. The replacement of guardrails and other safety equipment will in the future be part of the contracts for current repair and maintenance of the roads, which are currently expiring and conditions are being written for requirements when selecting new companies. The regulation on guardrails is currently being revised by the MRDPW and it will certainly include concrete safety equipment in certain places, although their initial value is much higher than metal guardrails, but over time they do not need to be replaced and so they are gradually paid off.

SOF Connect has begun construction of a 5 MW photovoltaic power plant at Sofia Airport. The facility is being built on airport-owned land and will generate electricity for internal consumption. The plant will feature 8,300 solar modules covering an area of ​​approximately 50,000 square meters and will include a real-time monitoring and control system. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of the year, with a battery storage system planned for a subsequent phase. Hydroenergiyna Kompaniya AD is the project contractor. The airport is the first in Bulgaria to achieve Level 4 ("Transformation") accreditation under the international Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program.

Glavbolgarstroy has successfully completed a key stage in the implementation of the Vertical Gas Corridor: the crossing of a 700-meter section of the gas pipeline beneath the bed of the Golyama Kamchiya River at a depth of approximately 25 meters. The Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) operation was carried out using a trenchless method over a four-month period and represents one of the most technologically complex engineering phases of this strategic energy project. It forms part of the final construction phase of Lot 3—"Looping from Rupcha to Vetrino"—executed by companies within the construction holding, with GBS Energy Solutions acting as the lead partner. HDD technology enables the pipeline to cross beneath the river without open-cut excavation by following a pre-designed trajectory under the riverbed. In this instance, the 700-meter section was installed at a depth of approximately 25 meters; a DN1200 pipe—with a diameter of 1.2 meters and a weight of around 500 tons—was laid through a borehole with a diameter of 2 meters.

Construction has begun on "Retail Park Nova Zagora"—the first retail complex of its kind in the city and municipality. The investor behind this large-scale project is A.D. Hold OOD. The new retail park will occupy an impressive site of 26,600 sq. m, with the retail area itself spanning approximately 11,000 sq. m. Construction is expected to conclude, and the complex to be fully completed, early next year. The complex will be situated in a prime location at the entrance and exit of Nova Zagora, at the intersection of Patriarch Evtimiy Street and the E773 international road, ensuring direct access to both major traffic routes. The planned tenant mix includes a supermarket and stores offering fashion, footwear, electronics, sporting goods, and home products. Additionally, the complex will feature discount stores, a drugstore, a pharmacy, as well as cafés and dining establishments.

The Council of Ministers granted an individual exemption (derogation) to Bulmachinery Enterprises OOD from European Union restrictions on supplies to Russia, enabling the company to supply Rosatom Service JSC (Russia) with components intended for use in spent nuclear fuel storage containers for the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. Under this derogation, Bulmachinery Enterprises OOD will be able to supply Rosatom Service JSC with 288 welded hexagonal stainless steel tubes and three stainless steel test specimens. The specimens are intended for mandatory testing of the mechanical properties of the metal used to manufacture the tubes. The components are destined for incorporation into spent nuclear fuel storage containers for Kozloduy NPP EAD. According to the Council of Ministers' decision, the supply is directly linked to ensuring the safe operation and normal functioning of the power plant.

A private enforcement agent is making another attempt to sell a reactor located in the village of Trud. The unit is part of a large-scale industrial system for processing waste from the mining and metallurgical sectors, owned by Technoyon AD—a debtor in enforcement proceedings initiated by UniCredit Bulbank. The company operates a metal recycling plant in Devnya, which was also put up for public auction in 2023 and 2024. The starting price for the reactor auction is set at €107,635.50 (BGN 210,516.74), a figure that includes the machine's technical specifications. For comparison, the initial starting price during the previous auction in 2024 was BGN 1,026,120 (including VAT), representing 85% of the value. The reactor is subject to a special pledge and an attachment order. The winning bidder will be announced on October 13 at the Plovdiv Regional Court. Technoyon AD was established in Sofia in 2017, with business activities focused on processing industrial and mining waste and extracting non-ferrous metals. Three years later, the company began constructing a plant for hydrometallurgical processing and the production of cathode copper and zinc in the Devnya industrial zone, representing an investment of BGN 10,440,000. The project also received a Class A investment certificate. The Board of Directors includes Aleksandar Tsekov, EMP Invest Bulgaria AD, and IM Solutions. Corporate records indicate that the company is backed by Dutch capital. Last year, the company cancelled its VAT registration. Its workforce shrank from 18 employees in 2020 to just two in 2024.

The European Commission has unveiled a long-awaited package of new measures to foster local innovation and competitiveness. New public procurement rules direct state and local authorities to prioritize European suppliers when delivering public services. With the new EU Public Procurement Act, Brussels is officially putting an end to the era when the lowest price was the primary criterion for selecting a contractor and money was handed over upfront in sacks of cash (at least in certain parts of Europe). Public institutions will now be required to consider a range of quality, environmental, and social criteria while utilizing a streamlined, simplified, and unified system across the entire EU. As expected, the new framework has the potential to restrict or entirely exclude companies from third countries—including China—from the lucrative European public procurement market, valued at €2.6 trillion annually (approximately 15% of the Union's GDP). The new framework establishes clear rules regarding access for non-EU companies and goods. Firms and products from third countries with which the Union has concluded international agreements (such as the WTO Agreement or bilateral free trade agreements) retain full, equal access to the European market. However, should a third country fail to grant reciprocal access to European companies (for instance, in light of US President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs), or in the absence or non-compliance with international commitments, contracting authorities and the European Commission have specific mechanisms at their disposal to restrict or completely exclude such bids. Without explicitly singling out China, strict requirements are being introduced to assess risks related to cyberattacks, espionage, and excessive reliance on external suppliers for critical technologies; contracting authorities gain the right to terminate contracts or disqualify bidders if a security threat arises. For research and development (R&D) procurement, "European preference" rules mandate that at least 50% of the contract's R&D activities be carried out within an EU member state or a partner country (such as those in the European Economic Area and the Western Balkans). This preferential treatment mirrors the approach adopted in the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA)—extending beyond EU-based enterprises—yet contrasts with the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) and the European Business Portfolio, which pursue a stricter concept of technological sovereignty. For businesses, the new framework represents a radical shift in how tenders are won. The standard award method becomes the Best Price-Quality Ratio, moving away from the previous reliance on the lowest bid. Quality criteria (technological advantages, environmental footprint, social and labor standards, security) must account for at least 30% of the total evaluation score; for labor-intensive sectors, this quality threshold rises to a minimum of 50%. Selection based solely on the lowest price is permitted only as an exception, specifically when quality is fully guaranteed by the technical specifications. Brussels is also establishing an EU-wide digital platform to link existing national e-procurement systems. Companies will submit their core compliance data only once, while eligibility checks will be automated. This is expected to save public buyers approximately €220 million annually. Contracting authorities are required to actively consider dividing contracts into smaller, distinct lots; the formation of consortia is being facilitated; and strict rules regarding timely payments throughout the supply chain are being introduced. Cross-border participation within the EU will also be encouraged. The new public procurement legislation is directly linked to the European Innovation Act, which was adopted as part of the same package and also presented on Wednesday. While the latter establishes common European procurement rules specifically for R&D services (pre-commercial procurement/PCP), the public procurement legislation introduces a reformed and simplified innovation procedure; this allows for the procurement of both R&D outputs and the final innovative products or construction works within a single tender. Both mechanisms are based on the principle that intellectual property rights generated during the process remain with the developing companies, enabling them to commercialize these rights on the global market. To support innovative startups and SMEs, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) will manage a Competence Centre, a joint licensing platform, and a common framework for intellectual property valuation aimed at facilitating bank and equity financing. The European Commission’s publication of the legislative package marks the start of intensive negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to reach a final political compromise. Following the final adoption of the regulation, a period of technical and administrative adaptation will ensue. Key challenges will involve establishing technical standards for the Digital Single Market and enhancing the capacity of public administrations. For the new rules to function in practice, contracting authorities in Member States will need to learn to evaluate complex criteria—such as carbon footprint, security of supply, and social value—rather than relying on basic price-based ranking.

Peruvian exports reached US$63.521 billion in the first seven months of 2026, a rise of 33 percent, with copper and gold accounting for roughly 60 percent of the total. Mining products account for around 73 percent of exports over the period, at US$46.284 billion. Copper contributed US$21.607 billion, up 43.3 percent. Gold contributed US$16.394 billion, up 56.9 percent. Between them the two metals come to roughly US$38 billion. The period covered is January to July 2026, seven months. Figures circulating as year to date through August are describing a different window. Copper exports rose 43.3 percent to US$21.607 billion. Gold rising 56.9 percent by value in seven months is a price story rather than a volume story. Peruvian gold production has not grown by anything like that rate. That distinction determines how durable the surge is. Export revenue built on price reverses when price does, and it does not leave behind the capacity that volume growth builds. Two commodities at 60 percent of exports is a familiar Peruvian position and a familiar Peruvian vulnerability. It makes fiscal revenue, the current account and the exchange rate all functions of the same two prices. It also sits awkwardly against a separate warning this week. Alonso Segura, president of Peru’s Fiscal Council, said the country enters an El Niño period with its financial-asset savings at their lowest level in around 25 years, despite record commodity prices. Peru is the world’s third-largest copper producer after Chile and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its output is concentrated in a small number of very large operations: Cerro Verde, Antamina, Las Bambas, Toquepala and Cuajone. That concentration is a permanent feature of the export data. A single mine going into maintenance, or a single road blockade in Apurímac, moves national export figures in a way that would be impossible in a diversified economy. Mining royalties and corporate tax on mining companies are a substantial share of Peruvian fiscal revenue, and they rise and fall with the same prices that drive the export line. A year of exceptional metal prices should therefore be a year of exceptional revenue, and it should be the year a country rebuilds its stabilisation fund.