In January 2026, the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX) reported a substantial uptick in trading activity, with a total of 2,886,403.1 MWh of electricity exchanged on its day-ahead market. This figure reflects an 11% increase from December, underscoring a trend of rising demand and market engagement. The average daily traded volume during this period reached 92,960.7 MWh, while the overall trading volume was also up by 3.6% compared to January of the previous year.
The pricing landscape on the IBEX has shifted notably, with the average baseload price for January hitting 148.55 euros/MWh, which marks a significant 27% rise from December’s average of 117.25 euros/MWh. Concurrently, the average peak price surged to 172 euros/MWh, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 31%. These price movements indicate a robust market dynamic and heightened competition among traders.
The number of participants in the IBEX day-ahead market has also expanded, reaching a total of 150 registered traders, an increase of three from the previous month. This growth is indicative of increasing confidence and interest in Bulgaria’s power market as it continues to evolve.
A highlight for January was the establishment of a new daily trading record on January 27, when trading volumes peaked at 107,207.43 MWh. This surpassed the earlier record set on January 14, 2024, by approximately 3%, showcasing strong demand and liquidity within the market.
<pAdditionally, activity on the intraday continuous market saw an increase as well, with total trades amounting to 665,583.4 MWh, reflecting an uptick of 8%. The average weighted price in this segment rose to 156.83 euros/MWh, marking a notable increase of 25.9%. These trends suggest that shorter-term trading is also experiencing firmer pricing conditions as market dynamics shift.
