Although exact statistics on Bulgarian industry at the time were not always available, it was already clear that the country had made significant progress. Each factory or workshop considered here had a minimum capital of 25,000 francs and employed at least 20 workers. From this, we can see that Bulgarian industries were becoming quite important.
Some factories were much larger, employing 200 to 300 workers each. In addition to these, there were countless small enterprises across the country that were not included in the official count. For example, in the Sofia Chamber of Commerce region alone, there were more than 500 workshops, including 108 carpenters’ shops.
Industrial Establishments in 1907
By December 31, 1907, Bulgaria had 166 industrial establishments, distributed among several sectors:
3 Mining industries
8 Metallurgical industries
6 Ceramic factories
15 Chemical industries
57 Food and beverage industries (including breweries and distilleries)
51 Textile factories
8 Furniture-making workshops
13 Leather industries
1 Paper mill
4 Miscellaneous industries
Capital Investment by Industry
The total capital invested in these industries amounted to 30,599,432.79 francs. The breakdown is shown below:
Industry Number of Factories Total Capital (francs) % of Total Average per Factory (francs)
Food & Brewing 56 14,375,543.51 46.98% 256,706.13
Textiles 45 6,603,526.41 21.58% 146,745.03
Ceramics 6 1,926,690.87 6.30% 321,149.61
Chemicals 13 1,338,962.25 4.38% 102,997.10
Mining 3 774,077.52 2.53% 258,025.87
Leather 12 685,180.00 2.14% 54,598.33
Furniture 8 599,616.55 1.92% 73,702.07
Metallurgical 6 331,246.34 1.08% 55,208.00
Paper 1 185,433.00 0.61% 185,433.00
Miscellaneous 4 3,818,946.34 12.46% 954,736.59
Total 154 30,599,432.79 100% —
Dominant Sectors
The food and brewing industry held the first place in terms of capital investment. This included mills, breweries, and distilleries, which were vital for both domestic consumption and export. The textile industry ranked second, reflecting Bulgaria’s long tradition in weaving and cloth production. The ceramics industry came third, showing growth in pottery and brickmaking enterprises Private Sofia Tours.
Employment in Industry
As of January 1, 1905, the total number of people employed in these factories was 7,026, including both owners and workers. Among them, 677 were owners or managers, while the rest were regular employees or laborers. This demonstrates that industry was becoming a growing source of employment and income in Bulgaria.
By the early 20th century, Bulgaria’s industrial base had grown steadily from small local workshops into a network of modern, capitalized enterprises. The rise of industries such as textiles, food processing, and ceramics marked a turning point in the nation’s economic history. Though agriculture still dominated, these early factories laid the foundation for Bulgaria’s transformation into an industrial economy in the years to come.