The value of Poland’s goods exports reached €366.2 billion in 2025, representing an increase of 3.7% compared with 2024, according to data from Statistics Poland (GUS). This figure is also several times higher than in 2004, when Poland joined the European Union. Nearly 75% of Polish exports are sent to EU member states, where the free movement of goods is enabled by the EU single market. Experts say that this market has become a launchpad for Polish exports, benefiting both companies and consumers. However, a number of internal barriers still remain.
“The export potential of Polish companies has grown significantly since entering the European market. If we look at the numbers, exports have increased sevenfold compared with 2003, the last year before Poland joined the EU. It is important to remember that this market includes more than 450 million potential consumers. Alongside the United States and China, it is one of the largest markets in the world,” says Justyna Lipczyńska, Head of the Northern Europe Department at the Export Support Department of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), speaking to the Newseria news agency.
The total value of Polish goods exports amounted to €59.7 billion at the end of 2004. By contrast, from January to December 2025, exports reached €366.2 billion. Poland’s largest trading partner remains Germany, which accounts for more than one-quarter of the country’s exports, followed by the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Key Industries Driving Export Growth
According to Lipczyńska, three industries experienced particularly strong growth after Poland joined the European Union:
- Furniture manufacturing, where Poland has become one of the global leaders in exports.
- The automotive sector, largely based on the production of components and integration into European supply chains.
- The agri-food sector, including fruit and vegetable processing.
“Poland is now among the leading exporters of poultry and apples within the European Union,” she emphasizes.
According to the National Support Centre for Agriculture, the value of Poland’s agri-food exports reached a record €58.4 billion in 2025, representing an 8.6% increase year-on-year. Within this total, exports to EU countries amounted to €43.9 billion. The largest recipients were Germany (€14.8 billion), France (€4 billion) and the Netherlands (€3.4 billion).
Data from the Polish Development Fund (PFR) indicate that the EU market is also crucial for Polish furniture exporters, accounting for around 80% of total furniture exports, with the German market alone representing roughly one-third of the sector’s exports.
Similarly, in the automotive industry, Germany remains the primary export destination. According to AutomotiveSuppliers.pl, goods worth €11.3 billion were exported there during the first three quarters of 2025, accounting for nearly 34% of the sector’s total exports. Other key markets include France (7.5%), the Czech Republic (7.39%), and Italy (6.41%).
Benefits of the EU Single Market
“The EU single market means no customs duties and free movement of capital and people. It also means uniform regulations for all countries that are part of the European Union,” Lipczyńska explains.
Polish companies have benefited not only from easier export opportunities but also from increased competitiveness. Initially, Polish firms competed mainly on lower production costs, but over time they began competing increasingly on quality.
“Today we can proudly export products—even premium brands—to mature markets such as France, Germany or the Scandinavian countries,” she adds.
The European single market, operating since 1993, allows the free movement of goods, services, people and capital not only among the 27 EU member states, but also with EFTA countries such as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland through special agreements.
Lessons from Brexit
Lipczyńska notes that many Polish companies only fully realize the benefits of EU membership in practical situations. Brexit provides a clear example of what leaving the EU could mean for trade.
“Brexit showed what Poland might lose if it left the EU, because British companies began exporting significantly less after leaving the single market,” she says.
The United Kingdom left the EU customs union and single market on 1 January 2021. By 2024, UK exports to the EU were 18% lower than in 2019.
“Polish companies can see firsthand the challenges that arise when customs barriers appear—for example, phytosanitary regulations for agri-food exports that require additional documentation. Tariffs also increase product prices, meaning Polish goods would no longer be as competitive if we were not part of the EU,” Lipczyńska explains.
Benefits for Consumers
Since the creation of the EU customs union in 1968, tariffs between member states have been eliminated. This allows companies to operate with lower costs, expand more easily into foreign markets and reach a larger customer base.
Consumers also benefit from greater choice, lower prices and high safety standards for products and services.
“The single market benefits not only Polish exporters but also consumers in Poland. A large market means stronger competition between companies, which can lead to lower prices,” Lipczyńska emphasizes.
She also points out that EU membership ensures that Polish products comply with strict certification and quality regulations, particularly in sectors such as food and cosmetics.
“Because Polish products must meet the same standards as those from older EU member states, consumers receive products that are healthier, safer and often more competitively priced,” she says.
Remaining Barriers Within the Single Market
Despite the existence of the single market, the European Central Bank (ECB) notes that trade within the EU is still limited by regulatory barriers whose effects are comparable to tariffs. The estimated tariff-equivalent impact is around 95% in services and 67% in goods trade.
“The EU single market also brings shared challenges, but the strength of EU institutions lies in their efforts to address these issues collectively, often listening to the voices of entrepreneurs and potential exporters from different countries,” Lipczyńska says.
One of the major challenges today is the uneven implementation of EU regulations across member states, which makes it difficult for companies to prepare products in a uniform way for all EU markets.
According to the ECB, barriers arise from factors such as:
- differences in national regulations,
- complex administrative procedures,
- inconsistent application or excessive implementation of EU rules,
- and protectionist practices that place foreign companies at a disadvantage.
“Even without formal barriers, especially during periods of economic slowdown, individual countries sometimes try to protect their domestic producers,” Lipczyńska notes.
One of the most debated issues in recent years has been the European Green Deal. While it brings clear environmental and sustainability benefits, it has also proven costly for many companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, which were often not fully prepared for the scale of required changes.
“As a result, despite its positive environmental impact, the Green Deal has become a major challenge for many Polish and European businesses,” Lipczyńska concludes.
