March 2026 witnessed a notable uptick in trading activity on the day-ahead market of the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX), with total electricity transactions reaching 2,823,293.9 MWh. This figure reflects a 5% increase from February, underscoring a trend of heightened market engagement. The average daily traded volume during this period was approximately 91,074 MWh, marking an 18% year-on-year rise compared to March 2025, which signals improved market liquidity and participant involvement.
The pricing dynamics during March exhibited mixed trends. The average baseload price for electricity increased to 103.54 euros/MWh, representing a 4% rise from February’s average of 99.57 euros/MWh. Conversely, the average peak price experienced a significant decline of 20%, settling at 83.07 euros/MWh. This drop may indicate either reduced demand or enhanced supply capabilities during peak hours. Additionally, the number of registered market participants grew to 153, reflecting an increase of three from the previous month and further indicating robust market participation.
The intraday continuous market saw even more pronounced growth, with total trading volumes reaching 754,579.6 MWh, which is a substantial 37% increase compared to February. Despite this surge in trading volume, the average weighted price declined by 4.7%, landing at 88.19 euros/MWh. This decline suggests greater short-term supply flexibility and potentially more effective market balancing mechanisms.
The developments in March highlight significant shifts in Bulgaria’s power trading landscape, characterized by increased volumes and fluctuating prices that reflect broader trends in energy supply and demand dynamics.
