Citizens of Ukraine and Russia are among the top ten foreign buyers of housing in Bulgaria in 2024–2025, according to a study by the Experts Club analytical center and data from the Bulgarian Real Estate Association.
According to the study, the top 10 countries whose citizens are most active in buying real estate in Bulgaria are: Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Israel, Romania, Turkey, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.
Foreigners account for a significant share of transactions in the housing market. According to one international analytical resource, the number of foreign buyers of residential real estate in Bulgaria in 2024-2025 has increased by approximately 18%, and the overall market is showing steady price growth. According to local experts, the percentage of foreigners in some coastal projects may reach 30% of the total number of buyers.
Foreign buyers are most interested in properties on the Black Sea coast – in Varna, Burgas, and Nessebar – as well as in the mountain resorts of Bansko and Pamporovo, where real estate is considered both for personal use and as an investment for rental.
Analysts note that Ukrainians have firmly established themselves in the top 10 due to a combination of relocation and investment demand: some buyers view Bulgaria as a safe EU jurisdiction during the war, while others see it as an opportunity to earn income from renting out property in tourist regions.
The growth in foreign demand is supporting price increases: over the past year, the cost of housing in Bulgarian seaside resorts has risen by an average of 8-10%, and in Sofia by 7-10%.
At the same time, according to estimates by the European Commission and a number of analytical reviews, housing in Bulgaria in 2025 is overvalued by approximately 10-15% relative to fundamental indicators, but experts are not yet talking about a critical “bubble” in the market.
In the next 2–3 years, Experts Club analysts expect foreigners to keep showing interest in Bulgarian real estate, but with a change in the demand structure: they estimate that the share of buyers from the EU, Ukraine, and Israel will grow, while the role of Russian buyers in new deals may continue to decline amid sanctions and capital movement restrictions.
According to data from the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria and international reviews, in the second half of 2024, housing prices in the country rose by 15% year-on-year and by 87% compared to 2015. At the same time, the average price per square meter in the country remains significantly lower than in most EU countries, making Bulgaria one of the most affordable real estate markets in the Union for foreign investors.
Russian citizens traditionally account for a significant share of owners, especially on the coast. According to Bulgarian sources, in the Burgas region alone, more than 5,200 properties owned by Russians are officially registered, while across the country as a whole, there are several tens of thousands of properties. At the same time, in recent years, the share of new purchases by Russians has been declining, and some of the properties are being put on the market and bought by Bulgarian and Western European buyers.
Source: https://expertsclub.eu/rynok-zhytla-bolgariyi-analiz-vid-experts-club/
India imported $14.72 billion worth of gold in October 2025, according to data from the country’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This is three times more than in October last year, 1.5 times more than in September this year, and is set to be a historic record (last year, a slightly higher figure was reported in November, but it was later revised).
“The growth in gold imports in October was phenomenal, despite very high world prices,” said Indian Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry Rajesh Agrawal, according to The Hindu. “The growth in silver was also phenomenal.” Silver imports increased 6.3 times, to $2.72 billion.
“The continuous rise in gold prices ahead of the festive season could have led to speculative demand, which may not be sustained in the future, possibly leading to some decline in imports in the coming months,” warns Aditi Nayar of Indian rating agency ICRA.
In just 10 months of 2025, India imported $50.74 billion worth of gold, up 17% from the same period last year (October’s results reversed the trend).
India is one of the world’s largest consumers of gold, producing virtually none itself.
Earlier, the Experts Club analytical center presented an analysis of the world’s leading gold-producing countries in its video on YouTube channel — https://youtube.com/shorts/DWbzJ1e2tJc?si=YuRnDiu7jtfUPBR9
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), global wheat production in 2025 is forecast to reach around 809.7 million tons, which is 1.3% higher than in 2024.
The growth is expected to be driven by increased yields in Canada, Kazakhstan, China, and India, while southern Europe and North Africa remain at risk of lower production due to drought.
“The outlook for the global wheat market remains generally positive, and global stocks at the end of the season will remain stable despite active exports from the Black Sea region,” the FAO Cereal Supply and Demand Brief notes in its October review.
Top 20 countries in the world by wheat production in 2025 (FAO and USDA estimates)
These twenty countries produce more than 90% of the world’s wheat.
Despite overall growth in yields, global wheat stocks could decline by 1.6% to around 312 million tons by the end of 2025. This is due to increased domestic consumption in Asia and the Middle East, as well as active exports from Russia, Ukraine, and Australia.
Average global wheat prices remain volatile, but FAO analysts predict their relative stabilization while maintaining harvest and stock volumes.
Despite the war, Ukraine retains its status as one of the largest grain exporters. According to estimates by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in the 2024–2025 marketing year, the country exported about 15 million tons of wheat, supplying it to Egypt, Indonesia, Spain, Turkey, and Tunisia.
Ukraine ranks 11th–12th in the world in wheat production and is among the top five global exporters thanks to its high yields and logistics routes through the Danube and Baltic ports.
A detailed overview of the world’s major wheat producers from 1970 to 2024 can be found in the Experts Club analytical video: Watch on YouTube
The Experts Club analytical center has created a video analysis of global aluminum production in 1970-2024. Based on visual data from the video “Top 20 aluminum producers from 1970 to 2024” and confirmed statistical data for 2024, an overview of industry trends has been formulated.
Since the 1970s, primary aluminum production has gradually shifted from Europe and North America to Asia and the Middle East. At the dawn of the industry, Western Europe and the US accounted for a significant share of production. However, the following decades saw rapid capacity expansion in China, India, and the Middle East.
The video confirms that in 2024, the largest producer (China) controls about 60% of the world’s volume, while the top ten leaders account for more than 80% of production.
According to sources (Wikipedia, Visual Capitalist, NATO, World Population Review), aluminum production in the top ten countries in 2024 will look like this:
China — ~43 million tons.
India — ~4.2 million tons.
Russia — ~3.8 million tons.
Canada — ~3.3 million tons.
UAE — ~2.7 million tons.
Bahrain — ~1.6 million tons.
Australia — ~1.5 million tons.
Norway — ~1.3 million tons.
Brazil — ~1.1 million tons.
Malaysia — ~0.98 million tons.
Total global primary aluminum production in 2024 is estimated at approximately 72 million tons.
The world of aluminum production is becoming increasingly concentrated: China holds a dominant position, while other leading countries control a significant share. Countries with growing infrastructure, automotive, and construction sectors (India, Brazil, UAE) are showing dynamic growth.
The video is available on our YouTube channel –
World demand for gold excluding over-the-counter (OTC) transactions in the third quarter of 2025 amounted to 1.26 thousand tons, which is 5% higher than the result of the corresponding period last year, calculated by the World Gold Council (WGC).
Investors continued to play a key role: purchases in ETFs in the third quarter amounted to 222 tons, demand for coins and bars – 316 tons (for the fourth consecutive quarter it exceeded 300 tons). Central bank purchases also remain at a high level of 220 tons – 28% more than in the previous quarter.
Supply in the gold market increased by 3% to 1.31 thousand tons. This is a quarterly record in the history of observations. The excess supply, 55 tons, was absorbed by the OTC market.
Earlier, the Experts Club think tank presented an analysis of the world’s leading gold producing countries in its Youtube channel video – https://youtube.com/shorts/DWbzJ1e2tJc?si=YuRnDiu7jtfUPBR9.
The European Union is facing a serious crisis in the supply of critical materials after the decision of the Chinese government to impose new export restrictions on rare-earth magnets and raw materials for their production, reports Politico.
As noted, Beijing’s decision in early October has escalated the trade standoff with the United States and created risks for European industry, which is almost entirely dependent on imports of such elements from China.
“A crisis in the supply of critical raw materials is no longer a remote risk. It is already on our doorstep,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told MEPs on the eve of the EU summit.
She emphasized the need for “decisive and urgent action” to ensure faster and more reliable supplies of critical materials “both within Europe itself and from trusted partners.”
European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said the EU was not interested in escalating tensions, but emphasized the need to resolve the situation quickly. “However, this situation casts a shadow on our relations. Therefore, a quick solution is essential,” he said.
Šefčovič said China and the EU will “strengthen contacts at all levels” to discuss the restrictions. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is due to arrive in Brussels for consultations in the coming days.
“The European Union is also holding talks with the G7 countries on an agreed response to the crisis ahead of a ministerial meeting to be held October 30-31 in Canada,” the report said.
Earlier, the information and analytical center Experts Club analyzed the global market of rare earth metals of the world and Ukraine, the video is available here -.
https://youtu.be/UHeBfpywpQc?si=0L-2nSUrLlIbqVZ5?si=Fk6Oi_13NKpEW81K
CHINA, EUROPEAN UNION, EXPERTS CLUB, EXPORT, rare earth elements
