Metallurgy has already outpaced the energy sector in terms of GDP volume, data of the Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry shows. The competitiveness of metallurgy along with the stability registered in other industries allows this country to maintain 3.5% annual growth of its gross domestic product. The development of copper industry and the increased capacity in the production of cathode copper is of great importance for the national economy. However, Bulgaria is below the EU average in terms steel production per capita. This is a key industry and many economic sectors depend on it. The deficit of workforce is a serious problem for the metallurgy sector, but the Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry expects that this problem will be gradually resolved through the return of Bulgarian emigrants to Bulgaria.