Poland’s food exports on the rise

For two decades, Polish agri-food products have been systematically conquering foreign markets. Although most of them go to the countries of the European Union, we hear more and more often about Polish food being available in distant, more exotic corners of the world.

In the first ten months of 2025, the value of exports reached EUR 48.5 billion (PLN 206 billion) – 8% more than in the same period of the previous year. Imports amounted to EUR 32.1 billion (PLN 136 billion), which means an increase of 8.4 percent. The positive trade balance amounted to EUR 16.4 billion (PLN 70 billion) and was higher by as much as 7.2% compared to the same ten months of 2024.

Polish food reigns supreme in the European Union

It is not surprising that the European Union remains the largest recipient of Polish products – it is responsible for 75 percent of the value of exports. In the first ten months of 2025, the value of sales to EU countries amounted to EUR 36.5 billion (PLN 155 billion), which means an increase of 10 percent compared to 2024.

Most Polish food went to:

• Germany (EUR 12.3 billion, +8%)
• France (€3.4 billion, +23%)
• The Netherlands (€2.8 billion, +12%)
• Italy (€2.4 billion, +8%)
• Czech Republic (€2.3 billion, +9%)

The most popular products were tobacco and tobacco products (EUR 4.1 billion), poultry meat (EUR 3.5 billion), dairy products (EUR 2.5 billion), beef (EUR 2.3 billion), fish and preserves (EUR 2.3 billion), chocolate and chocolate products (EUR 2.1 billion) and bread and bakery products (EUR 2.0 billion).

Polish food on non-EU markets

Exports to non-EU countries in the first ten months of 2025 reached EUR 12 billion (PLN 51 billion), which means an increase of 2 percent.

The largest recipients were the United Kingdom (EUR 3.7 billion), Ukraine (EUR 1.0 billion), the USA (EUR 690 million), Turkey (EUR 454 million), the Russian Federation (EUR 417 million), Switzerland (EUR 378 million) and Israel (EUR 296 million).

Particularly dynamic growth was recorded in Europe on non-EU markets: Serbia and Albania increased purchases of Polish food by 30 percent y/y, and Ukraine – by 28 percent y/y. The markets of Southeast Asia looked equally impressive: Taiwan (+49% y/y), the Philippines (+22% y/y), Vietnam (+19% y/y), Malaysia (+18% y/y) and the Republic of Korea (+11% y/y).

The increase in exports in 2025 is primarily due to higher average food prices on international markets. Polish producers are also supported by maintaining a strong position in global supply chains and recovering consumer demand in the European Union. On non-EU markets, the slightly slower growth was probably related to the appreciation of the zloty against the US dollar.

Nevertheless, Polish food is increasingly boldly going beyond the borders of the Old Continent and strengthening  its position of a country exporting high-quality agri-food products.

Source: National Centre for Agricultural Support (KOWR), „Systematyczny wzrost eksportu polskich produktów rolno-spożywczych”

Translated by IDC

JL