Last year, Poland’s agri-food exports amounted to €53.5 billion, marking a 2.7% increase compared to the previous year, while imports grew by 6.7%, according to preliminary data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS). The slowdown in export growth was influenced by the appreciation of the Polish zloty against the euro, making Polish products sold abroad more expensive. Polish food exporters are gradually losing the cost and price advantages that have driven foreign sales over the past two decades and are seeking alternative strategies.
“The change in value typically consists of two elements: a change in volume and a change in prices. For the first time since 2016, the volume performed so weakly. In 2024, the volume of Polish agri-food products sold abroad was only 1% higher than in 2023, showing a clear slowdown,” explains Dr. hab. Łukasz Ambroziak, professor at the Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute (IERiGż) in an interview with Newseria. “The year 2024 was difficult for Polish agri-food exporters. The zloty strengthened against the euro by over 5%, meaning that products sold in foreign markets in euros became more expensive.”
Last year, the rise in prices was the key factor behind the increase in agri-food export value. However, the growth was not significant, with an increase of 2.7% in euro terms, reaching €53.5 billion. Preliminary GUS data indicate that the export value expressed in zlotys declined by 2.9% compared to 2023. Meanwhile, imports in this category rose by 6.7% year-on-year to €35.6 billion.
“For the first time since 2016, Poland’s positive balance in agri-food trade declined by €820 million compared to the previous year, reaching approximately €17.9 billion,” says Prof. Łukasz Ambroziak.
He highlights that the reduction in surplus was primarily driven by changes in trade involving wheat, corn, rapeseed, cocoa semi-products, and coffee.
“In recent years, due to the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, agricultural and food markets have experienced significant disruptions, leading to rising prices for agricultural and energy raw materials. Even though commodity markets are now somewhat stabilized, production costs in the food sector remain higher than before the pandemic. This means that the cost and price advantages that previously fueled Polish agri-food exports have weakened due to rising raw material costs, production expenses such as energy and wages, and the appreciation of the zloty against the euro in 2024,” explains the IERiGż expert.
Since joining the European Union, Poland has gained access to foreign markets thanks to lower production costs, cheaper raw materials and energy, and lower wages compared to Western European countries. However, this model is increasingly becoming a burden on Polish exports and the development of the agri-food sector.
“Polish producers and food exporters should focus on developing non-price advantages that will allow them to stand out among other producers in the EU market. This primarily involves emphasizing product quality, increasing the production of highly processed and functional foods. These are the areas where Polish producers should seek competitive advantages to compete beyond just pricing their products on foreign markets,” assesses Prof. Łukasz Ambroziak.
Despite last year’s slowdown, the agri-food sector remains crucial to Poland’s foreign sales. Its share in total exports increased from 14.8% in 2023 to 15.3% last year. This was partly due to weaker exports of non-agri-food products, which declined by 1.4% year-on-year in euro terms.
“A 15.3% share is a record level in recent years and is likely to remain stable or even slightly increase in the coming years,” forecasts the IERiGż expert. “It is also important that Poland’s surplus in agri-food trade increasingly contributes to improving the overall trade balance. In 2024, Poland achieved a trade surplus of €700 million.”
According to a report by the National Agricultural Support Center (KOWR), in 2024, the structure of Polish agri-food exports was dominated by meat, meat products, and livestock (€10.8 billion, 20% share of total value). Other major categories included cereal grains and processed products (€6.5 billion, 12%), tobacco and tobacco products (€5.6 billion, 10%), sugar and confectionery (€4.5 billion, 8%), dairy products (€3.5 billion, 7%), fish and seafood products (€3.1 billion, 6%), and vegetables and processed vegetable products (€2.7 billion, 5%).
The EU market accounted for 74% of Polish agri-food exports. The primary products exported to EU countries included tobacco and tobacco products, poultry meat, fish and seafood products, and dairy products. The largest recipients were Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Outside the EU, Poland mainly exported meat and meat products, dairy products, chocolate and chocolate-based products, as well as baked goods. The leading non-EU markets were the United Kingdom, followed by Ukraine and the United States.
