Poland records wider trade deficit as exports and imports continue to grow

Poland’s exports reached PLN 667.5 billion in the first five months of 2026, while imports totalled PLN 679.9 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of PLN 12.5 billion, according to Statistics Poland (GUS). Compared with the same period of 2025, exports increased by 3.5% and imports by 3.4%.

Measured in euros, exports amounted to €157.6 billion and imports to €160.6 billion, leaving a deficit of €2.9 billion, compared with €3.1 billion a year earlier. In US dollar terms, exports totalled $184.8 billion, while imports reached $188.3 billion, producing a deficit of $3.4 billion.

Developed economies remained Poland’s largest trading partners, accounting for 87.3% of exports and 66.1% of imports. The European Union represented 75.0% of exports and 53.2% of imports. Poland recorded a trade surplus of PLN 138.7 billion with EU member states, while trade with developing countries produced a deficit of PLN 168.5 billion.

Germany remained Poland’s largest export destination, receiving goods worth PLN 176.8 billion, equivalent to 26.5% of total exports. The Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands completed the top five export markets. Exports to the United States were the only decline among Poland’s major trading partners, falling 3.6% year-on-year.

On the import side, Germany remained the largest supplier with PLN 129.4 billion, representing 19.0% of imports by country of origin. China ranked second with PLN 105.8 billion and increased its share of total imports to 15.6%, followed by the United States, Italy and the Netherlands. Imports from France were the only decline among Poland’s principal suppliers, edging down 0.5%.

Trade with Brazil remained the largest among Mercosur countries. Poland recorded a trade deficit of PLN 4.2 billion with Brazil, as exports fell 11.1% while imports increased 13.4% compared with the first five months of 2025. Polish exports to Brazil were led by machinery and pharmaceutical products, while imports consisted mainly of vehicles and automotive parts, animal feed, ores, tobacco, recovered paper and coffee.

By product category, exports recorded the strongest growth in commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC (36.9%) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (15.5%). Imports increased most in commodities not classified elsewhere (22.7%), followed by mineral fuels (10.3%) and machinery and transport equipment (9.0%). Machinery and transport equipment remained the largest category in both exports and imports, accounting for 37.3% and 37.1% of their respective totals.