Sub-sector best prospects: Include the sub-sectors in which U.S. companies would have the best opportunity of exporting.
Overview
In 2021, total U.S. agricultural and related product exports to Poland were valued at a record-high $566 million, a 12% increase over 2020. The U.S. Embassy’s Office of Agricultural Affairs provides routine market intelligence to U.S. food and agricultural exporters, and regularly creates linkages between Polish food, bulk commodity, beverage, and ingredient importers and U.S. exporters.
Best prospects for U.S. agricultural products include seafood (pollock, salmon), livestock feed ingredients, such as soybean meal and feed preparations, bovine genetics, and consumer-oriented products, including wine, tree nuts (almonds and pistachios), dried fruit (cranberries and prunes), distilled spirits, as well as hardwood lumber. Additionally, U.S. beans and pulses are getting increasing attention from Polish importers and food processors.
Data Source: Trade Data Monitor (TDM). Customs Database of TDM tracks intra-EU transshipments of the U.S. products.
Leading Sub-Sectors
Seafood
Poland remains one of the largest fish processors in the European Union (EU) and imports almost 95% of the seafood it processes. Poland ranks among the largest salmon importers in the world and sources products mostly from Norway and Sweden, with the United States ranked sixth supplier in 2021. 2020 data showed strong interest in U.S. salmon and pollock, with imports of U.S. sockeye salmon up by 193% over 2020. Post forecasts that imports of pollock and salmon and other seafood from the United States will grow in 2022, pending market prices and competition from Norway and China. Although domestic seafood consumption in Poland continues to increase, most seafood processed in Poland is bound for markets in other EU Member States.
Commodity Group: Salmon and Pollock
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS030311, HS030312, HS030367, HS030475, HS030494,
Value in U.S.$1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 156,029 | 186,902 | 172,458 | 225,120 | 270,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 52,999 | 54,502 | 48,146 | 54,690 | 60,000 |
Bovine Semen
There is strong interest in U.S. dairy genetics in Poland due to the continued growth in Poland’s dairy industry. In 2021, Polish bovine semen imports were valued at $11.6 million and consisted of about 1.7 million doses of semen. The value of imported U.S. bovine semen in 2021 was about $4 million, a 52% increase over the previous year. Higher dairy prices and consistent consumer demand for dairy products on the world market are driving demand for U.S. bovine genetics among Poland’s dairy producers.
Commodity Group: Animal Genetics
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 051110
Value in U.S.$1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 8,437 | 7,031 | 7,874 | 11,572 | 11,900 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 1,500 | 1,946 | 2,626 | 4,000 | 4,400 |
Soybean Meal
In 2021, Poland imported 2.72 million metric tons (MMT) of soybean meal, a 1.6% increase over 2021, valued at over $1.3 billion. Of these imports, 88% was sourced from South America in 2021. Soybean meal is a significant source of protein and is an important input in Poland’s large poultry production sector. Post forecasts that soybean meal imports will increase by an additional one % (volume terms) in 2022, as demand for poultry continues to expand. Price competition from Argentina and Brazil will continue to be a decisive factor for the U.S. soybean meal imports to Poland.
Commodity Group: Soybean meal
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 230400
Value in U.S.$1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 1,039,813 | 944,253 | 1,025,870 | 1,332,207 | 1,600,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 37,505 | 46,430 | 18 | 0 | 20 |
Wine
Poland is a leading importer of wine in Central Europe, with Italy, France, and Spain accounting for about 60% of the Polish market share. The U.S. wines, along with other “new-world” wines, are gaining in popularity and becoming increasingly visible. While California wines are better known in Poland, wines from the Pacific Northwest are also increasingly recognized. Although more and more Polish consumers are aware of U.S. wines, educating consumers about the unique attributes of U.S. wines remains necessary.
Commodity Group: Wine
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS2204
Value in U.S.$1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 354,186 | 362,254 | 370,477 | 421,353 | 430,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 44,189 | 34,418 | 39,484 | 42,991 | 43,000 |
Tree Nuts (Almonds and Pistachios)
Most U.S.-origin tree nut imports are almonds and pistachios, which are increasingly popular as an ingredient in food processing, particularly in confectionery, bakery, and snack food sectors. Almonds are also popular among consumers for snacking and home baking. Spain is the leading competitor for U.S. almonds in Poland, while Iran is the leading competitor in pistachio imports.
Commodity Group: Tree Nuts
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 0802
Value in U.S.$1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 195,067 | 145,411 | 164,917 | 200,303 | 200,500 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 33,305 | 49,335 | 55,395 | 61,248 | 61,300 |
Processed Fruit
The dried fruit market is experiencing dynamic growth, led by dried cranberries, prunes, and dried cherries, which have experienced steady popularity as snack foods. As Polish consumers become more health-conscious, these products are increasingly used in home baking, confectionery, and snack sectors.
Commodity Group: Processed Fruit
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 2008
Value in U.S.$1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 247,936 | 243,228 | 298,229 | 327,587 | 330,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 21,072 | 19,227 | 25,160 | 19,919 | 21,000 |
Hardwood Lumber
U.S.-origin wood-sawn and/or chipped lumber products accounted for 84% of the total U.S. wood and wood products exported to Poland in 2021. Market trends for U.S. lumber and wood products in Poland are in flux due to strong international competition and local price sensitivities.
Commodity Group: Wood Sawn or Chipped Lengthwise
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 4407
Value in $1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 400,020 | 355,378 | 373,183 | 553,074 | 650,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 2,169 | 2,184 | 1,978 | 1,808 | 2,000 |
Commodity Group: Packings and Wood Pallets
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 4415
Value in $1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 86,078 | 86,893 | 88,368 | 150,835 | 210,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 362 | 86 | 314 | 289 | 100 |
Commodity Group: Wood Continuously Shaped
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 4409
Value in $1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 53,733 | 62,745 | 75,984 | 109,124 | 130,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 160 | 287 | 134 | 210 | 300 |
Beans and Other Pulses
Imports of leguminous vegetables from United States remain smaller than from China and South America; however, this segment shows growth potential. Polish importers and food processors are increasingly aware that U.S. beans and pulses are of higher quality than similar products from competing markets. Depending on market price fluctuations U.S. pulses can also be price competitive.
Commodity Group: Leguminous Vegetables, including dried beans
Harmonized Schedule Code(s): HS 0713
Value in $1,000
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Imports | 25,529 | 27,858 | 33,818 | 35,129 | 45,000 |
| Total Imports from U.S | 2,765 | 1,030 | 499 | 800 | 500 |
Resources
Attaché Reports provide information on market opportunities, crop conditions, new policy developments and information on the local food industry. Some standard reports include the Retail Market Report, Exporter Guide, Food Service Report, and market briefs on select products. Post also recommends that interested stakeholders review the EU-27 reports.
Trade Data
Please also refer to the USDA’s Global Agricultural Trade Systems that include international agricultural, fish, forest, and textile products trade statistics dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system in 1989 to present.