The Polish product wanted worldwide
Polish products enjoy the popularity of international consumers. It is proven by the fact that Polish export is increasing, despite the global economic crisis, especially to developed countries. Mostly, we export processed products, of plant and animal origin.
In 2008, the export of Polish agricultural and food products in current prices amounted to 399.4 billion PLN and increased by 3.3% year-to-year. Export expressed in Euros amounted to 114.6 billion Euros and increased by 12.5%, and in US dollars – 169.5 billion USD (increase by 22.2%). The increase dynamics of import was higher than export in 2008, regardless of the currency. Import in the previous year amounted to 485.8 billion PLN and increased by 6.3% in relation to the year 2007 (139.3 billion Euros, increase by 15.7%; 206.1 billion USD, increase by 25.5%).
In the geographic structure of Polish trade generally, the greatest share traditionally went to developed countries (83% of export value expressed in Euros and 69% of import), in this, mainly to EU countries (respectively 77% and 61%). The favourable balance of turnover in trade generally noted only with Community members – EU 27 (10.8 billion PLN; 3.1 billion Euros); however, with countries from the Euro2 zone, already an adverse balance occurred (-23.7 billion PLN; -6.8 billion Euros). In trading with third countries (outside the EU), an adverse balance was obtained in turnover, in this, the greatest with developing countries (-66.4 billion PLN; -19 billion Euros) and with Middle-East European countries (-15.8 billion PLN; -4.5 billion Euros). For years, Germany has been Poland’s most important trade partner, both in export (25% total value in 2008), as well as import (23%). Furthermore, the following were the greatest recipients of Polish good last year: France, Italy, Great Britain and Czech Republic (approx. 6% each), Russia (5%), Holland and Ukraine (approx. 4% each), as well as Sweden and Hungary (approx. 3% each). Aside from Germany, the following were the top ten suppliers of all good to Poland in 2008: Russia (10%), China (8%), Italy (6%), France (5%), Czech Republic (4%), Holland and Great Britain (approx. 3% each), as well as the Republic of Korea and Belgium (approx. 2% each).
Export
In Polish agricultural and food export, processed products dominate, both of plant and animal origin (total approx. 2/3 of the value of agricultural and food export). In 2008, export of preserves increased by approx. 14%. In the animal department, income from the sales of the following increased the most: cheese and cottage cheese (27%), red meat and offal (25%), bird eggs in shells (24%), as well as, to a lesser degree, processed meat (12%), yoghurts and kefir (14%), milk and cream (4%), and poultry and offal (4%). Poultry was an agricultural and food product of the highest sales value in the previous year (614.7 million Euros). From year to year, the export of fish and fish products is significantly increasing (10% increase annually), especially preserves (30%), smoked fish (6%) and fish fillets (4%). In 2008, the export value of among others butter (-13%), live stocks (-12%), powder milk (-4%) and whey (-50%) decreased.
Similarly to the previous years, in the plant department, confectionery goods had the most importance in export, which value in 2008 increased by approx. 12%, as well as fruit preserves (increase by approx. 10%) and vegetable preserves (12%). In relation to 2007, income also increased from the sales of sauces, soups and thickeners (45%), margarine (55%), preserves received from swelling and roasting grains (26%), sugar (17%), fodder for animals (7%), protein concentrates and syrups (5%). In the group of plant raw materials an increase was noted in the export value of fresh fruits (9%), fresh vegetables (3%) and flowers (31%). The export value of rape decreased significantly (by almost 30%) and rape oil (17%). In the department of other products, in recent years tobacco products are becoming the most important position in export, especially cigarettes (34% increase in sales value year-to-year), which in 2008, were the second product of Polish agricultural and food export in terms of value.
Recipients of Polish products
Germany has been the main recipient of Polish agricultural and food goods for many years, which in 2008 bought food from us for approx. 2.8 billion Euros, which constituted almost one quarter of Polish agricultural and food export in general (increase of deliveries by 8% annually). The German consumer bought Polish poultry and offal most frequently (10% share in export to this country), fish (10%), mainly smoked, red meat and offal (7%), especially beef, milk (also in powder form) and cream (5.5%), fish preserves (4%), as well as cheese and cottage cheese (3%). Similarly to the previous year, in the plant department, the highest incomes were achieved from the sales of fruit preserves (13% share), in this mainly fruit juices and deep-frozen fruits, as well as sugar products (8%), above all bakery products and rape oil (4%). Out of plant raw materials, rape and mushrooms (2% each) were important positions in export.
Second, in terms of value of the output market was Great Britain for the second year in a row, with 795 million Euros and 7% share in Polish agricultural and food export in total. The residents of the Islands supplied themselves on the Polish market in confectionery products (16%), mainly chocolate, meat products (15%), fruit preserves (10%), poultry and offal (9%), fish and fish preserves (9%), as well as fresh vegetables and mushrooms (9%). An important factor favouring such a high position of Great Britain in Polish agricultural and food export is the economic migration of Poles.
Similarly to the year 2007, in the top five recipients of Polish agricultural and food products among EU countries, as well as the entire world, were Czech Republic (6% share in Polish export), Holland (6%) and Italy (5%). The highest increase dynamics of export from all EU-27 countries were noted in: Slovenia (54%), Finland (48%), Bulgaria (39%) and Portugal (38%).
Since the beginning of 2004, the share of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is decreasing, in Polish agricultural and food export, especially Russia’s. In 2008, although sales to CIS has increased in Euros by 26% annually, and the sales in Polish agricultural and food export have increased from 8.6% to 9.7%, however, it has not occurred due to the intensified deliveries to Ukraine (close to a 70% increase of export). Thereby, Ukraine has moved from the eleventh to the ninth place among world recipients of Polish food. Russia has maintained its sixth position from the previous year and the first position among countries from outside the EU; however, deliveries have decreased by 7%, and the share in Polish export has decreased from 4.5% to 4.3%. Above all, Russia received confectionery products from Poland (25% of export value), vegetable preserves (15%) and fruits (11%), cheese and cottage cheese (4%), sauces, soups and thickeners (4%), red meat and offal (4%), as well as live swine (4%). However, in 2008, Ukraine was the main recipient of Polish beef (28% of the entire Polish export abroad of this type of meat and 28% of Polish agricultural and food export to Ukraine) due to additional payments to export from the EU. Belarus also bought Polish beef in 2008. Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were also, aside from Lithuania, the most significant buyers of Polish apples in the previous year. In the last quarter of the year, sales to eastern markets, however, began to decrease drastically due to the depreciation of the Russian and Ukrainian currencies, as well as the political unrest in Ukraine.
From among non-European countries, it is worth mentioning the United States, which was the largest recipient of Polish spirit drinks in the world (close to half of the deliveries of these goods to foreign markets and 23% of Polish agricultural and food export to the USA), as well as wheat gluten (77% export of Polish gluten), and fourth in the world and first outside the EU recipient of meat products from Poland. However, Jordan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Egypt are, aside from EU countries, more and more regarded buyers of Polish cigarettes, with a growing share in the structure of our export of tobacco products. Algeria is the largest output market in the world for Polish malt extract and food products from flour and grits, the second (behind Germany) market for powder milk, and also the third (behind Germany and Egypt) – for wheat exported from our country.
Meat and offal
In the previous year, Poland exported a total of 781.2 thousand tons of meat and offal (in this poultry), i.e. by close to 12% more than in 2007. In export value, this increased by over 256 million Euros and shaped at the level of approx. 1.734 billion Euros. Fresh, cooled or frozen beef gained the most important position in Polish export of unprocessed red meat in 2008. In 2008, Poland exported over 245 thousand tons of fresh, cooled or frozen beef for a total of 415.3 million Euros. In comparison to the year 2007, Polish export of beef in terms of value increased by 29%, while in quantity, it increased by 16%. Fresh, cooled or frozen carcasses and half-carcasses were exported above all. The unit price of exported beef amounted to 1.69 Euros/kg, against 1.52 Euros/kg in 2007 and 1.56 Euros/kg in 2006. The largest recipients of beef from Poland in 2008 were Ukraine (close to 78 thousand tons), Lithuania (24.4 thousand tons), Czech Republic (17.5 thousand tons), Belarus (approximately 13 thousand tons), Germany (approximately 11 thousand tons), Slovakia (approximately 11 thousand tons), Hong Kong (9.5 thousand tons), Great Britain (8.1 thousand tons), South Korea (8.1 thousand tons), Latvia (7.5 thousand tons), Bulgaria (7.1 thousand tons), and above all Russia, Romania, Japan, Holland, Hungary and many other countries.
In 2008, EU countries imported from Poland a total of 114.5 thousand tons of fresh, cooled or frozen beef of a value of 226.6 million Euros. Export to “old” EU countries formed at the level of approximately 37 thousand tons, and its value amounted to 77.2 million Euros; however, deliveries of Polish beef to new countries of the Community amounted to 77.5 thousand tons, of a value of 149.4 million Euros. The share of new and “old” EU countries in Polish export of beef formed at the level of 32% and 15% respectively. The largest recipients of Polish unprocessed beef among “old” EU countries were Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Ireland and France; however, from among new countries of the Community, the following imported Polish beef most frequently: Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.
In the last year, Poland exported a total of a little over 700 tons of fresh, cooled or frozen beef to EU candidate countries (Macedonia, Croatia), i.e. by 43% less than the year before. The largest recipient for this type of meat from Poland among these countries was Croatia (690 tons).
In 2008, we exported a total of 103.1 thousand tons of fresh, cooled or frozen beef to CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States), i.e. 13 times more than a year before. The share of these countries in the total export of beef from Poland formed at the level of 42%. The increase of export in this direction resulted on the one hand from the duty-free export contingent admitted to Poland by Ukraine, on the other hand, from the possibility of using export refunds for beef in trading with third countries. These additional payments operated in the Union since the beginning of 2008 to August last year, when the European Commission reserved them due to the improvement of the situation on the beef market in the Community. Reserving the refunds caused a mass decrease in Polish export of beef to the east in the last quarter of 2008. Problems with the devaluation of the hryvnia in Ukraine did not foster it, as well as the effects of the financial crisis. The share of Asian countries (Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam) in Polish beef export in 2008 amounted to approximately 10%. In the last year, 24.3 thousand tons of beef went to those countries, i.e. 12% more than in the year 2007. The value of this export reduced, however, by almost 15%.
Last year, Poland exported approximately 168 thousand tons of fresh or cooled beef for a total amount of 466.2 million Euros. In terms of quantity, this export increased by 6.8%, while in terms of value it increased by almost 25% in relation to 2007. The largest recipients of fresh or cooled Polish beef were: Germany (41.3 thousand tons), Italy (40.2 thousand tons), Holland (36.4 thousand tons), France (9.8 thousand tons), Spain (7.4 thousand tons), Denmark (6.5 thousand tons), Czech Republic (4.1 thousand tons), Great Britain, Austria, Greece and a number of other countries. In the last year, we delivered a total of 161.7 thousand tons of fresh or cooled beef to EU countries, in this close to 152.5 thousand tons to “old” Community countries and 9.2 thousand tons to new European Union countries.
We also exported approximately 2.3 thousand tons of fresh or cooled beef to CIS countries (in this, 1.4 thousand tons to Russia and 860 tons to Kazakhstan) and 1.9 thousand tons to candidate countries to the Community. Among candidate countries, the most fresh or cooled beef were imported from Poland by Macedonia (1.7 thousand tons) and Croatia (almost 100 tons). Among remaining countries, the most fresh or cooled beef from Poland went to Kosovo (a little over 1.8 thousand tons).
Last year, we exported over 21.8 thousand tons of frozen beef for a total of 62.8 million Euros. The value of exported frozen beef increased in relation to export in 2007 by over 62%; however, the quantity increased by 47%. Frozen beef was mainly exported to Russia (3.8 thousand tons), Sweden (2.1 thousand tons), Germany (1.7 thousand tons), Greece (1.6 thousand tons), Denmark (1.6 thousand tons), Austria (1.4 thousand tons), Bulgaria (1.4 thousand tons) and Italy, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Romania and France, as well as a number of other countries. In 2008, Poland exported a total of 16.4 thousand tons of frozen beef to EU countries, in this 11.6 thousand tons to “old” EU countries and 4.8 thousand tons to new members of the Community.
In the past year, Poland imported 438 thousand tons of fresh, cooled or frozen beef, i.e. almost 80% more than in the year 2007; while 4.2 thousand tons of fresh or cooled beef.
Meat products
Last year, 124 thousand tons of meat products were bought from Polish manufacturers, i.e. by over 11% more than in 2007. In terms of value, in 2008, export of meat products from Poland increased by 25% and amounted to approximately 366 million Euros. Since 2004, i.e. since Poland’s accession to the European Union, a constant increasing trend has maintained in the export of meat products from our country.
In 2008, Poland exported over 31.7 thousand tons of sausages and similar meat products (code CN 1601) for a total of 81.5 million Euros. The largest recipients of sausages from Poland were: Lithuania (8.3 thousand tons, 26% of total quantity), Germany (6.2 thousand tons), Great Britain (4.7 thousand tons), Denmark (3.7 thousand tons), Azerbaijan (approximately 2 thousand tons), Slovakia (1.5 thousand tons), Czech Republic (1.4 thousand tons), Ireland (1.3 thousand tons), and additionally Hungary, Italy, Estonia, Japan, Georgia, Portugal and Ukraine.
In 2008, export of sausages from Poland increased by almost 19% in terms of quantity, while in terms of value it increased by 34.5%. This increase largely resulted to larger deliveries of sausages to new and “old” countries of the European Union. In the entire year of 2008, Poland exported a total of 29.1 thousand tons of sausages to the EU, in this 16.7 thousand tons to “old” Community countries and 12.4 thousand tons to new EU countries. In the past year, the export of sausages from Poland to “old” EU countries increased by approximately 31%, while it increased by almost 15% to new members of the Community. The share of “old” and new EU countries in Polish export of sausages in 2006 formed at the level of 53% and 39% respectively.
However, the previous year in terms of the export of sausages to countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) decreased by 21% and amounted to a total of approximately 2.3 thousand tons (in this about 2 thousand tons to Azerbaijan). The share of these countries in all of Polish sausage export in 2008 formed at the level of approximately 7%.
Last year, Poland exported approximately 2.6 thousand tons of sausages on average per month, while in 2007 this export formed at the level of about 2.2 thousand tons on average per month. In 2008, we delivered approximately 1 thousand tons of sausages on average per month to EU countries, while in 2007 deliveries amounted to an average of 900 tons. The average monthly export of Polish sausages to “old” EU countries formed at the level of 1.4 thousand tons in 2008, while in 2007 it amounted to approximately 1 thousand tons.
In 2008, we also exported 72.7 thousand tons of remaining products or conserved meat for a total of 210.2 million Euros. They mostly went to Great Britain (11.6 thousand tons), Denmark (11.2 thousand tons), Germany (10.2 thousand tons), United States (8.6 thousand tons), Czech Republic (5.9 thousand tons), Hungary (4.1 thousand tons), Lithuania (3.2 thousand tons), Ukraine (2.7 thousand tons), to Italy (2.5 thousand tons), and additionally to Ireland, Slovakia, Moldavia and to Spain. In the past year, a total of 58.8 thousand tons of goods went to EU countries, in this approximately 41 thousand tons to “old” Community members and 17.8 to new EU countries. Export to NAFTA countries (United States and Canada) and CIS formed at the level of 8.6 thousand tons and 4.5 thousand tons respectively. Deliveries of remaining meat products or conserved meat to new EU countries increased by 13.5%; while to “old” Community countries, they increased by almost 3%. The share of “old” EU countries in all of Polish export of these goods formed at the level of 56%, while for new Community countries it amounted to 24%.
In the past year, import of meat products to Poland decreased by almost 15% in comparison to the year 2007, to 14.8 thousand tons. However, the import value of these products increased by almost 6% and formed at the level of over 52.2 million Euros.
Deep-Frozen Vegetables
Again in 2008, the volume of exports of deep-frozen vegetables increased to 355.7 thousand tons in relation to 334.0 thousand tons a year ago. Thereby, the total export of deep-frozen vegetables from Poland was higher by 6% in comparison to the year 2007. The sales value of deep-frozen vegetables increased by 8% and closed the total amount of 194.3 million Euros against 178.8 million Euros. Thereby, the export of deep-frozen vegetables constituted 56% of the total export of Polish processed vegetables in the past year. For many years, the most popular imports from Poland are frozen onion and runner beans, as well as frozen cauliflower and broccoli, and also frozen carrots, tomatoes and green peas.
Last year, exactly 70% of deliveries of Polish deep-frozen vegetables went to the markets of remaining EU countries – 250.0 thousand tons against 230.0 thousand tons the year before. Thereby, in the past year, the volume of deliveries has increased by 8%, and the value of this export was higher by 10% and formed at the level of over 149.0 million Euros in comparison to 135.0 million Euros in the previous year. From the above quantities 215.4 thousand tons (194.8 thousand tons in 2007) constituted total purchases of the EU “fifteen” and the remaining almost 35.0 thousand tons were imported by new member states (35.2 thousand tons a year before). The largest recipient in the past year was Germany, as always, with a result of over 83.0 thousand tons. French import maintained at a close level to previous year’s purchases – a little over 40.0 thousand tons. Over 28.0 thousand tons of Polish deep-frozen products were also imported by Holland, 19.0 thousand tons Belgium, 17.6 thousand tons Great Britain, and a little over 8.0 thousand tons Sweden. Out of the group of new member states, the largest quantities of frozen vegetables were delivered from Poland to Czech Republic, similarly to the year before – almost 17.0 thousand tons, and also 5.0 thousand tons to Hungary.
In comparison to 2007, purchases of Polish deep-frozen products increased insignificantly by ex-Soviet Union countries – almost 95.7 thousand tons in the past year – increase by only 2.5 thousand tons. The value of this sale also did not increase much – by 2.5 million Euros to 39.2 million Euros. From the exported volume, traditionally the most - 90% of deliveries went to the Russian market – in total 85.5 thousand tons, to compare the amount was identical a year ago. We did not export much more frozen vegetables to Ukraine in comparison to the year earlier – 6.3 thousand tons, and the remaining amount of Polish deep-frozen products (almost 3.5 thousand tons) was bought by Belarus.
Once again, less frozen vegetables were imported by Canada than a year ago (5.2 thousand tons against almost 6.4 thousand tons a year ago and 8.2 thousand tons in 2004), as well as the US (less than 1.1 against 2.1 thousand tons a year ago and almost 3.7 thousand tons two years before). Romania, which imported a total of almost 3.1 thousand tons of Polish deep-frozen products in the discussed period, bought 1.0 thousand tons more Polish vegetables – for comparison, in 2004 import in this country amounted to only 0.7 thousand tons.
In relation to 2007, less of Polish frozen vegetables were imported by NAFTA countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States imported under 6.0 thousand tons in total. However, Croatia imported more deep-frozen products in the discussed period – 1.3 thousand tons.
Vegetable mixes have a significant export position among frozen vegetables – in the past year the total sales were less than 53.0 thousand tons for a sum of 27.0 million Euros.
Chocolate products
Similarly to the year before, chocolate products (confectionery goods containing cocoa) were the most valuable position in Polish export and import of goods from the sugar and sweet industry. Turnover of Polish foreign trade in these goods closed with a positive balance in the amount of 185.2 million Euros, increasing by only 1% against 183 million Euros a year before (146.2 million Euros in 2006). This occurred due to the significantly larger increase dynamics of import, which amounted to 19%, than export (+11%). In the analysed period we exported almost over 118.6 thousand tons of above mentioned goods, obtaining close to 431.7 million Euros for them (in 2007: close to 75.6 thousand for 390.7 million Euros). The export volume was higher by 2%, and its value increased by 11%.
The highest export of chocolate goods was noted to the EU countries – 72% of export in terms of value and 70% in terms of quantity went to EU-27 markets. EU countries purchased a total of over 85.7 thousand tons for 300.9 million Euros in Poland. This means an increase by 13 and 19% respectively. 54.6 thousand tons (+25%) went to the Fifteen valued at 198.2 million Euros (+24%). A significant output market was also Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Croatia and the USA.
The most Polish confectionery products containing cocoa went to Great Britain – close to 18.7 thousand tons (+35%), for which 67.3 million Euros (+45%) were received. Such a clear increase in export in this direction can be connected with labour migration. Significant output markets were also Czech Republic, which purchased 10.7 thousand tons for over 31.9 million Euros, Russia which bought 7.7 thousand tons (decrease by 47%) of a value of 47.7 million Euros (-19%). Important output markets out of EU countries were also Austria, Germany, Hungary and Holland, as well as Slovakia. It is worth noting almost a triple increase in export to Holland (up to 5.8 thousand tons) and up to a 90% fall in export to Saudi Arabia (from 2.7 thousand tons to 300 tons), which in previous years was a significant recipient of Polish chocolate.
The goods structure of export was dominated by spread products containing cocoa (CN 1806 90 60), of which 20.3 thousand tons was sold abroad (+13%) for 51.9 million Euros (+14%). This gave 17% share in terms of quantity and 12% in terms of value in the export structure. Food products containing cocoa with filling (CN 1806 90 31) were positioned next on the list, of which 16 thousand tons was exported (+3%) for 111.2 million Euros (+12%), which constituted a 14% share in terms of quantity and 26% in terms of valued (the most). A little fewer chocolate products in blocks and bars (CN 1806 31 00) was sold abroad. Their export volume amounted to 15.7 thousand tons and value 41.1 million Euros (value 10% share, while quantity 13%). In 2008, export of chocolate goods constituted 52.4% (53.8% a year earlier) of the value and 15.1% (16.3% in 2007) of the quantity of export of the goods group including sugar, products from the confectionery industry and confectionery products. The share in export of agricultural and food products in total amounted to 1.3% in quantity (also 1.3% a year before) and 3.8% (3.9% a year before) in value.
Import value in 2008: 237 million Euros.
Import quantity: 71.1 thousand tons.
Main deliverer: Germany - 46% share in quantity, 52% share in value.
Dairy products
Despite the fact that Polish foreign trade of dairy products reached a historical value of over 1.2 billion Euros in 2008, the second half of last year was significantly weaker than the comparable period in 2007. In the third quarter of last year, the export value was lower by 15%, and in the fourth – by 4% than in analogical periods, and despite the sudden depreciation of the zloty, which should theoretically stimulate export. However, the more and more distinct recession in the dairy line of business shadowed on Polish export possibilities, on which the sharp worldwide economic crisis additionally levied in autumn 2008. EU countries remain to be the main recipients of dairy products from Poland, which already then were struggling with the economic crisis, and in the dairy sector – with a fall in prices and surplus of supply. Thereby, their demand decreased, even for cheaper dairy products. The fact that dairy was sold for significantly lower prices, is proven by the large increase in export volume against the poor soaring or – as it was in the export of powder milk, the second most important dairy product – even a decrease in value.
Despite this, Polish export of dairy products reached a record level of 1.21 billion Euros in 2008 – 4.1% higher than the hitherto best result from 2007. In terms of dollars this was 1.8 billion USD, 13.5% more than the year earlier. Import decreased in this time by over 4% to 248 million Euros (potentially increasing in terms of dollars, by over 3% to 366 million USD). The positive balance of exchange was also a recorded as the highest – 965 million Euros (1.43 billion USD).
The export record is thanks to the 27% gain in export of cheese and cottage cheese above all, but also a more slender increase in the sales value of fluid milk and cream, as well as yoghurt and dairy beverages. However, despite the high – 35% – increase in export volume of powder milk (up to 134 thousand tons), mainly low-fat, its value decreased by 4% due to the strong fall in world prices, thereby, the transaction values of selling this product from Poland. The sales of butter abroad fell in value by 11%, and a real crash occurred in the export of whey (decreased by over half, in a similar volume).
We mainly directed the dairy export to EU countries – over 81% of the total value of dairy export (against 77% a year before) or 987 million Euros, while the role of NMS increased – 11 new member states. The speed of dairy export gain on the Consolidated Market was higher than the total and amounted to 10% (in this to NMS 27%).
Germany remain the largest output market for Polish dairy, and the increase dynamics of export was above average (+10%), similarly to the case of Czech Republic (+12%), especially Italy (+21%) or Hungary (+44%). However, export to Holland, France and Belgium, as well as Algeria decreased (by 1/5) – mainly due to the decrease of powder milk prices, which this country is traditionally a large recipient. The importance of CIS continued to decrease (20% decrease in export value, to 42 million Euros).
Cheese and cottage cheese
It should be emphasised that we owe the positive result of Polish dairy export in 2008 to the good sales of cheeses. A total of 152.2 thousand tons of it has been exported during this time, by 14% more than in the previous year, and thanks to better prices, the export value has increased by 27% to over 471 million Euros. However, it can be mentioned, that at the end of the year, in December 2008, the export value of cheese was also lower than the year before (by almost 6%, in Euros). In terms of dollars, export during the entire previous year increased even more, because by 37% to 697 million USD.
The most important type of cheese exported are aged cheeses, marked collectively by the code PCN 0406 90. Their export constituted 54% of the value (256 million Euros) and half the volume (i.e. 77.3 thousand tons) of all cheeses that were exported abroad last year. The most important type of hard cheese exported was Edam – 1/5 of the value of hard cheeses sent and 1/9 – of all. The export of processed cheese grew a little less dynamically, mainly melted (code PCN 0406 30). The volume only increased by 2% to 31.5 thousand tons, but the value by 18% to 106 million Euros, which constituted 23% of sums obtained from the export of cheese in general. For years, the third category has been fresh cheese and cottage cheese. In 2008, in export there was even a 3% fall in volume noted (to 40.9 thousand tons); however, the value of sales increased by 19% and reached 102 million Euros (22% share in export of cheese in general). On account of the export of 2.5 thousand tons of remaining types of cheese (mouldy and grated or powder), a total of 7.2 million Euros has been gained, although it is worth mentioning the fantastic sales dynamics of mouldy cheese – exceeding 60% in terms of value already for the second year in a row. The most important recipients of cheese and cottage cheese from Poland are EU countries (in terms of value over 80%), in this above all our neighbours. Export to Germany has especially grown dynamically (by 38% to 86 million Euros, which gave them over 18% in shares), and a little weaker (+16%) to Czech Republic (69.4 million Euros, share of almost 15%). Other essential cheese recipients are Italy (42.5 million Euros, value increase by 29%) and Hungary (31.5 million Euros, plus 32%) and Slovakia (27.2 million Euros, plus 23%). Further significant directions of export of these products within the Consolidated Market are Spain (19 million Euros) and Great Britain (17.8 million Euros) – in both cases by over µ more than the year before, and then France (17.4 million Euros, decrease by 2%), Holland (15.3 million Euros, dynamic 68% gain) and Denmark (11.6 million Euros – almost 8% less than the year before). The most important partners outside the EU are Saudi Arabia (19.2 million Euros, increase in export value by over Ą) and Russia (18.7 million Euros, plus 16%), as well as Iraq (10 million Euros, increase by 29%). The volume and value of the export of cheese to Egypt has increased 7 times (1 thousand tons for 3.4 million Euros).
Import value in 2008: 83.2 million Euros. Main deliverer: Germany – purchase value 40.8 million Euros.
Milk and cream
Fluid milk, especially cream – which rapid export boom began after Poland’s accession to the EU – have remained to be quite a significant component of Polish dairy export (12.5% of its value – identical to the previous year). The sales volume of these products has increased by 43% to 249 thousand tons, and the value by 4% to 118 million Euros. Although this meant a historically record level, it should be added, that since the beginning of August of last year, the sales of cream and fluid milk abroad was a few times, even by over a dozen percent lower than the year before, which the graph shows. Germany has remained to be the dominating export direction, where 164.5 thousand tons of milk and cream (+43) for 102 million Euros has been sent – by 8% more than the year earlier. Two out of three tons of the discussed products exported from Poland went to the western partner. Other directions were naturally second in significance. From the sales of milk and cream to Holland, 10.5 million Euros (decrease by 5%) was gained, and to Hungary – 9.6 million Euros – which constitutes an increase by over three times. However, export to Belgium, which in 2007 was the second recipient of the discussed products from Poland, fell by over a half to 8.6 million Euros. Sales to Czech Republic and Lithuania have more than doubled (to 4.4 and 3.5 million Euros respectively), and to Romania increased by nearly six times (2.6 million Euros); however, on the other hand, export of milk and cream to Italy has decreased by 27% (to 4.2 million Euros). Certain amounts of milk and cream have also been sold to Slovakia (2.4 million Euros, plus 25%).
Import value in 2008: 27.4 million Euros. Main deliverer: Germany – purchase value 13.3 million Euros, quantity – 15.2 thousand tons.
Water and beverages
The export of water and beverages has come close to 172 million Euros (255 million USD) and was higher than the year before by 16% (27%). Czech Republic remained to be the leading recipient, despite the 7% fall in export value to 22.8 million Euros. The second significant direction became Great Britain: a 29% gain in the value of sales was noted to 22.3 million Euros. Thanks to a 22% increase in export, Germany came in third (19.2 million Euros). Export to Hungary decreased by 9% to 16.2 million Euros, but in exchange, more beverages and mineral water from Poland was bought by Slovaks and Lithuanians (almost 14 million Euros each), especially Romania (8.5 million Euros, +81%). Export to Latvia was quite stable at the level of 4.5 million Euros. Spain joined the group of quite essential recipients of water and soft drinks from Poland (4.9 million Euros – sales increased over 6 times), especially Greece (2.5 million Euros, over 8 times higher than in 2007). Malta became a new output market – 2.2 million Euros, and similar values were noted in export to France, Estonia and Bulgaria. Outside the Community, beverages and mineral water from Poland went to Russia in larger quantities – value increase by 1/3 to 8.8 million Euros (12.9 million USD). Export of the discussed products to Israel decreased by approximately 1/5 (4.9 million Euros/ 6.8 million USD) and USA (3.7 million Euros/5.7 million USD).
Import value in 2008: 111 million Euros.
Increase in import value: +6%.
Main deliverers: Germany – purchase value 31 million Euros, Czech Republic – 19 million Euros, Austria – 13 million Euros.
Fruit and vegetable juices
In 2008, the export of fruit and vegetable juices in general increased in relation to the previous year by 15% from 296.9 thousand tons to almost 350.0 thousand tons, and the value of this sale was also higher and closed with the amount of 448.3 million Euros against 402.2 million Euros the year before.
The largest quantity of Polish juices in the period from January to the end of December 2008 went to the remaining EU countries – in all 331.1 thousand tons, which gives up to a 95% share in the total Polish export of these products. The total sales value in this direction closed with the sum of 416.4 million Euros. To compare, in the previous year, we exported a total of 277.4 thousand tons of fruit and vegetable juices to the European Union for the amount of almost 373.0 million Euros. Once again, Germany – over 148.0 thousand tons and Great Britain – 43.0 thousand tons were the leading importers. A large amount of Polish juices and concentrates also went to the Austrian market – 30.0 thousand tons, Czech – 22.7 thousand tons, and 21.5 thousand tons to Holland. We sold the remaining amounts of fruit and vegetable juices last year to Russia – 7.7 thousand tons, to the United States – 4.3 thousand tons and to Norway – 2.3 thousand tons.
As every year, the export hit was the Polish apple juice concentrate – we exported it from Poland in an amount of 223.5 thousand tons for a total of 246.5 million Euros. To compare, in 2007, the export volume amounted to 171.3 thousand tons due to the low harvest of industrial apples and the limited amount of concentrate processing. In 2008, we had to deal with the reduction of export prices of the Polish product, both due to the large supply, as well as the world price decrease trend for this product. The average export price in 2008 amounted to a little over 1 Euros per kg, while in 2007, it was 1.22 Euros. In the discussed period, we exported a total of 24.8 thousand concentrates of apple juice of a Brix number not exceeding 20 – thereby, this export decreased by only 2.0 thousand tons in comparison to the previous year. The total amount of last year’s export of concentrate having a lower sugar concentration was 10.0 million against less than 8.4 million Euros in 2007.
In the case of exporting more popular juice concentrate having a Brix number exceeding 67, the volume of its deliveries increased significantly in relation to the year 2007 from 144.6 thousand tons to 198.7 thousand tons (almost 28% increase). The export value was also higher and closed in the sum of 236.5 million Euros from 201.1 million Euros the year before. Like every year, almost 98% of Polish apple juice (Brix above 67) went to the EU market of all countries – exactly 194.8 thousand tons of a total value of 229.6 million Euros. To compare, last year we exported a little over 140.0 thousand tons in the mentioned direction. Like every year, the most Polish apple juice was imported by Germany – almost 130.0 thousand tons, and Austria was second last year in terms of purchase volume – 22.3 thousand tons. Further places were taken by Great Britain with purchases at the level of 18.5 thousand tons and then Holland – almost 13.0 thousand tons.
Cereal products
The greatest share in the export of highly processed cereal products are traditionally breads and bakery goods. In the examined period it amounted to 75% in terms of quantity and 81% in terms of value. Food products from swelling and roasting grains constituted 21% of the sales volume of the entire group (17% of value), and pasta dough and pasta – 4% in terms of quantity and 2% in terms of value.
In the geographic structure of exporting bread and bakery products, the following had the greatest shares: Germany (25%), Czech Republic (12%), Hungary (9%), Slovakia (6%), Great Britain (6%), Belgium (5%), Russia (3%), Romania (3%), Lithuania (3%), Italy (3%), France (3%), Latvia (2%), Spain (2%), Sweden (2%), Denmark (2%), Holland (2%), Austria, Turkey, USA, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Ireland, Estonia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Greece – approx. 1% each. In 2008, the following are among recipients of cereals and roasted or swelled grains: Russia (15%), Germany (13%), Romania (9%), Great Britain (9%), Turkey (7%), Czech Republic (7%), Hungary (5%), France (4%), Saudi Arabia (4%), Slovakia (3%), Lithuania (2%), Bulgaria (2%), Croatia (2%) and Ukraine. The following countries had shares that were small – less than 1%: Greece, Israel, Latvia, Denmark, Estonia, Slovenia, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Serbia and Holland. We sold pasta to the following countries in the examined period: Czech Republic (18%), Great Britain (12%), Romania (10%), Germany (8%), USA (7%), Slovakia (6%), Holland (6%), Ukraine (6%), Latvia (4%), Ireland (3%), Kazakhstan (3%), Moldavia (2%), Russia, Canada, Estonia and Croatia – approx. 1% each.
Import value in 2008: 251 million Euros.
Main products: bread and bakery products (51% in terms of quantity and 70% in value), as well as pasta dough and pasta (40% in terms of quantity and 22% in value).
Polish food is perceived as good and of high quality around the world. Within the affiliation to the European Union, uniform laws concerning the safety of products and quality of goods bind us. Modern technological lines at each production stage allow to ensure both the mentioned quality, as well as the fact the Polish product is safe. If we add tradition to this, using tested recipes, modern packaging – we can be sure to say, that the Polish product is a label that can be trusted.
Maja ¦więcka
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