National Support Centre for Agriculture

From January to May 2026, the value of agri-food exports from Poland reached €24.1 billion (PLN 102 billion). Imports during this period reached €16.3 billion (PLN 69 billion), a 1% decrease compared to the previous year. As a result, the positive trade balance increased to €7.8 billion (PLN 33 billion), representing a 7.5% year-on-year improvement.

EU remains the most important direction

European Union countries continued to be the main destination for Polish food exports. During the first five months of 2026, products worth €17.8 billion (PLN 75.5 billion) were sold to the EU market, which is 0.4% more than a year ago. EU countries accounted for 74% of Polish agri-food exports.

Germany remained the largest recipient, receiving products worth €5.8 billion, despite a 3% year-on-year decline in sales. Next in line were France (€1.7 billion, a 6% increase), the Netherlands (€1.4 billion, a 3% decrease), Italy (€1.2 billion, a 4% increase), and the Czech Republic (€1.2 billion, a 3% increase).

Among the products exported to the EU market, tobacco and tobacco products were the most important, with sales reaching nearly €2 billion, a 5% increase compared to the previous year. Other significant contributors included:

• poultry meat (€1.7 billion, 6% increase),
• fish and fish products (€1.2 billion, 1% decrease),
• beef (€1.1 billion, 4% decrease),
• dairy products (over €1 billion, 16% decrease) – mainly due to lower exports of butter and milk fats (45% decrease), as well as liquid milk and cream (41% decrease),
• bread and bakery products (€970 million, 1% decrease),
• pet food (€916 million, 3% increase),
• chocolate and chocolate products (€909 million, 2% decrease).

Growing importance of non-EU markets

Even better dynamics were recorded in trade with countries outside the European Union. From January to May 2026, the value of exports to non-EU markets increased by 5%, to €6.3 billion (PLN 26.5 billion). These countries accounted for 26% of Poland's agri-food exports geographically.

Significant recipients of goods exported from Poland to third countries included:

The United Kingdom (revenues of €1.7 billion, a 4% year-on-year decrease), Ukraine (€488 million, a 3% decrease), the USA (€364 million, a 1% increase), and Turkey (€348 million, a 61% increase). Turkey stood out in particular, with a significant increase in export value, primarily due to a significant 88% increase in beef exports.

The main exports to non-EU markets were:

• meat and processed products other than poultry (EUR 738 million, a 10% increase year-on-year), including beef (EUR 280 million, a 28% increase - mainly exported to Turkey and France),
• dairy products (EUR 486 million, a 6% increase),
• poultry meat (EUR 446 million, a 2% increase),
• cereal grains (EUR 386 million, a 47% increase), including wheat (EUR 361 million, a 76% increase - mainly due to higher export values ​​to Angola (+324%), South Africa (+250%), and Nigeria (+128%),
• chocolate and chocolate products (EUR 382 million, a 1% increase),
• bread and bakery products (EUR 381 million, a 1% decrease),
• tobacco and tobacco products (EUR 371 million, a 1% increase). 1%)
• animal food (EUR 332 million, an increase of 15%).

Diversification of export destinations is gaining momentum

Data indicates the ongoing geographic diversification of Polish food exports. Among non-EU European markets, significant sales growth was recorded, including to Serbia (+28%) and Norway (+14%). Declines were observed in the United Kingdom (-4%) and Ukraine (-3%).

Even more dynamic growth was observed in some African and Asian markets. Exports increased, including to the Philippines (+80%), South Africa (+79%), Nigeria (+78%), Turkey (+61%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (+51%), Egypt (+50%), the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (+49%), Ghana (+37%), China (+18%), and the Republic of Korea (+17%).

Decreases in sales value were recorded, among others. in exports to the UAE (-29%), Guinea (-28%), Senegal (-27%), Israel (-19%), Algeria (-16%), Vietnam (-6%), and Saudi Arabia (-4%).

Meat, grains, and tobacco are the pillars of exports

Meat, meat products, and livestock had the largest share in the commodity structure of exports, with sales value reaching €5.2 billion, representing 22% of all agri-food exports.

The following categories were occupied by: cereal grains and cereal products (€2.7 billion), tobacco and tobacco products (€2.3 billion), sugar and confectionery (€1.8 billion), dairy products (€1.5 billion), and fish and fish products (€1.4 billion).

The commodity groups that recorded the largest increase in export value included, among others: Alcoholic beverages (+10.6%), fruit preserves (+21.9%), cereal grains (+7.6%), poultry meat (+5.3%), processed meats (+6.1%), and tobacco and tobacco products (+4.5%).

According to the KOWR analysis, the increase in the value of Polish agri-food exports in the January-May 2026 period was moderate, reaching 1.6%. This was lower than a year ago, when revenues from foreign food sales increased by 9.4% in the same period. This was primarily due to declines in the value of exports to Germany and the Netherlands, which, along with France, are among the largest recipients of Polish food.

The growth in exports was supported by a more favorable euro-zloty exchange rate, Poland's continued strong position in international supply chains, and higher food prices on the global market. The average FAO Food Price Index value for the first five months of 2026 was 128.0 points, 1.3 points higher than a year earlier.

The Polish agri-food sector thus confirmed its high competitiveness in foreign markets, and growing sales outside the European Union indicate a gradual expansion of the geographic base of domestic food customers.

* Data from the Analysis and Strategy Office of the National Support Centre for Agriculture