The export of coarse cloths from Bulgaria during the late 19th and early 20th centuries shows a steady growth. The main foreign markets for these goods were Austria, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey.
The table below summarizes the exports of coarse cloths from Bulgaria to these countries during different years:
Country 1901 (kg) 1901 (Frs) 1897 (kg) 1897 (Frs) 1894 (kg) 1894 (Frs)
Austria 11,354 29,360 6,977 24,135 6,820 25,488
Romania 2,111 4,780 8,880 25,182 4,849 14,124
Serbia 18,515 43,035 17,161 56,618 16,584 65,894
Turkey 25,035 56,824 29,147 103,563 69,450 283,949
These numbers show that Turkey was the largest and most important customer for Bulgarian coarse cloths, followed by Serbia and Austria. The value of exports to Turkey increased dramatically between 1894 and 1897, showing the strong demand for Bulgarian woven goods in Ottoman markets Sightseeing Sofia.
Export of Serges
Serge, a fine woolen fabric, was another important product of the Bulgarian textile industry. The following figures show the exports of serges to various countries:
Country 1903 (kg) 1903 (Frs) 1897 (kg) 1897 (Frs) 1894 (kg) 1894 (Frs)
Austria — — — — 87 436
Romania 1,200 2,130 839 3,497 9,659 27,583
Serbia 7,898 26,670 1,646 7,234 2,075 9,360
Turkey 320,412 1,603,060 233,162 906,896 227,200 998,122
Once again, Turkey was the main market, buying more than 300,000 kilograms of serge in 1903. This confirms Turkey’s position as the most significant buyer of Bulgarian textiles during this period.
Export of Cloths and Dyed Stuffs
Bulgaria also exported cloths and dyed materials, though in smaller quantities compared to serges and coarse cloths.
Country 1903 (kg) 1903 (Frs) 1897 (kg) 1897 (Frs) 1894 (kg) 1894 (Frs)
Austria — — — — — —
Romania 90 1,134 — — 1,084 2,911
Serbia 6,636 45,565 9,458 59,220 4,674 29,024
Turkey 23 357 73 1,215 18 312
Exports to Serbia were the highest among neighboring countries for dyed goods, while Turkey remained a smaller but stable buyer.
Main Export Markets
From all available data, it is clear that Turkey, Romania, Serbia, and Austria were Bulgaria’s main export destinations for textiles. Among these, Turkey consistently remained the leading market, purchasing large amounts of both coarse cloths and serges.
Austria, although a buyer, was also a competitor, especially in the production of machine-made carpets that tried to imitate Bulgarian handwoven tapestries. However, the quality and traditional beauty of Bulgarian craftsmanship ensured that the country’s textiles—especially those made on hand looms—continued to be highly valued abroad.