Poland is the second largest exporter of tobacco products in the world

Poland is one of the main players on the global tobacco market. Our country is the second largest exporter of tobacco and industrial tobacco substitutes. While at the same time, being the world’s largest tobacco importer.

Tobacco production in Poland

Poland does not play a significant role in terms of tobacco production. In 2023, according to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), Polish tobacco production reached 22 ,000 tonnes and was lower by 1,500 tonnes compared to 2022.

This places us only in  31st place in the world.

Tobacco cultivation is demanding.  The most favourable climatic and soil conditions are found in the Lubelskie, Świętokrzyskie and Małopolskie Voivodeships. At the end of 2023, there were about 3,500 tobacco growers registered in Poland.

Export of Polish tobacco products

Poland is the second largest (after China)  exporter of tobacco and industrial tobacco substitutes in the world.

At the end of 2023, the value of Polish net exports (exports less imports) amounted to USD 3.996 billion, which was the highest result in the history of available data . At the same time, Chinese exports reached a value of about USD 9.175 billion, and German exports (3rd place) – a value of about USD 3.393 billion.

The largest exporters of tobacco and industrial tobacco substitutes (2023), source: PFR

The main recipients of tobacco products from Poland are European Union countries, where in 2023  we exported around 86 percent of our production.

The largest amounts exported  were to:

1. Germany – PLN 9.93 billion,
2. Spain – PLN 2.62 billion,
3. Italy – PLN 2.11 billion,
4. Netherlands –PLN 1.04 billion.

The largest non-EU customers include: the United Kingdom (PLN 981.5 million), Saudi Arabia (PLN 678.5 million), Algeria (PLN 284.8 million), Ukraine (PLN 277.1 million).

Increases and decreases in Polish exports after accession to the European Union

In 2004, the export of Polish tobacco and its substitutes was relatively small, because the Polish tobacco market was only just adapting to the new conditions related to EU membership. The value of exports was at the level of PLN 577.9 million.

After 2004, many international tobacco companies invested in the Polish tobacco industry, which contributed to increased production and exports.

• Ireland (increase from PLN 499 in 2004 to PLN 179.5 million in 2023),
• Italy (an increase from PLN 198.4 thousand to PLN 2.1 billion in 2023),
• Austria (increase from PLN 68 thousand to PLN 334.9 million).

EU membership has enabled Poland to better integrate into supply chains, and manufacturing has become more competitively priced.

Examples of countries in the world with the highest fall of Polish exports of this sector between 2004 and 2023:

1. Cambodia ( a decrease of – 100 per cent, in 2004 the value of exports was PLN 36.7 million),
2. Russia (a decrease of – 99.83 per cent, in 2004 the value of exports amounted to PLN 53.2 million),
3. Mauritania ( a decrease of – 99.56 per cent, in 2004 the value of exports amounted to PLN 40.8 million).

In 2023, Polish exports of tobacco products continued to grow, although the growth rate was less dynamic due to stricter regulations, rising production costs and changing consumer preferences towards healthier alternatives. An example can be the domestic recipients of this industry. According to the latest research, about 24 percent of adult Poles smoke. This is a significant decrease compared to previous decades, when this indicator reached as much as 40 percent.

Source:

The Polish Development Fund (PFR) “Poland in international trade in goods”

The Central Statistical Office (GUS)

International Trade Centre (ITC)