Below is a list showcasing 15 of Poland’s top trading partners in terms of exports sales. These are countries that imported the most Polish shipments by dollar value during 2017. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Polish exports.

1. Germany: US$63.3 billion (27.4% of total Polish exports)
2. Czech Republic: $14.8 billion (6.4%)
3. United Kingdom: $14.7 billion (6.4%)
4. France: $12.9 billion (5.6%)
5. Italy: $11.3 billion (4.9%)
6. Netherlands: $10.1 billion (4.4%)
7. Russia: $7 billion (3%)
8. Sweden: $6.4 billion (2.8%)
9. Spain: $6.2 billion (2.7%)
10. United States: $6.2 billion (2.7%)
11. Hungary: $6.1 billion (2.6%)
12. Slovakia: $5.8 billion (2.5%)
13. Belgium: $5.1 billion (2.2%)
14. Ukraine: $4.8 billion (2.1%)
15. Austria: $4.4 billion (1.9%)

Over three-quarters (77.6%) of Polish exports in 2017 were delivered to the above 15 trade partners.

Among Poland’s top importers, Austria increased its Polish purchases by the highest percentage from 2016 to 2017 posting a 26.7% gain.

Close behind as Poland’s second-greatest supplier was Ukraine (up 26.3% in value), trailed by Slovakia (up 22.9%) the Russia and Belgium (both up 21.4%).

Sweden experienced the most modest increase among Poland biggest customers via its 13.1% uptick.

As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.

It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.

In 2017, Poland incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries:

1. China: -US$16.1 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2017)
2. Russia: -$7.7 billion
3. Netherlands: -$3.6 billion
4. Belgium: -$3.4 billion
5. South Korea: -$2.3 billion
6. India: -$1.1 billion
7. Japan: -$902.1 million
8. Italy: -$896.5 million
9. Germany: -$885.5 million
10. Ireland: -$761.1 million

Poland’s trade balance with the Netherlands went from a $1.6 billion surplus during 2016 to a -$3.6 billion deficit for 2017, while posting -$885.5 million in red ink in 2017 compared to $9.9 billion in black ink one year earlier.

Among Poland’s other trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Polish deficits with Italy (up 460.9%), Belgium (up 367.8%) and Russia (up 33.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Poland’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Poland to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.

Overall Poland posted a $408.7 million trade surplus in 2017, down by -94.9% from the 7.9 billion in black ink one year earlier during 2016.

Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.

In 2017, Poland incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries:

1. United Kingdom: US$8.3 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2017)
2. Czech Republic: $5.5 billion
3. France: $3.3 billion
4. Ukraine: $2.4 billion
5. Romania: $2.4 billion
6. Hungary: $1.8 billion
7. United States: $1.6 billion
8. Lithuania: $1.4 billion
9. Denmark: $1.2 billion
10. Sweden: $1.1 billion

Among Poland’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Polish surpluses with Ukraine (up 33.3%), Romania (up 30%) and the United Kingdom (up 2.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Poland’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Poland to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.

Companies Servicing Polish Trading Partners

Seven corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Polish companies that Forbes included:

• KGHM Polska Miedz (diversified metals, mining)
• Pgnig Group (oil, gas)
• PKN Orlen (oil, gas)

According to global trading platform Alibaba, the following companies are examples of export companies located in Poland. Shown within parenthesis is the product category that the Polish business specializes in.

• Ambra SA (sparking wines)
• BIP SP (diesel heaters)
• EWAX SC (undershirts, knitwear)
• GENATA SP (laundry detergent)
• POLSKA GRUPA MEBLOWA FURINI (furniture)
• PPHU BIURO-DRUK Fialkowska Aurelia (leather cases)
• STRAIGHTLINE TRADE LIMITED SP (water purification equipment)
• TOMASZ RONATOWICZ TOP SOCZEWKI (watches)
• Zbyszko Company SP (sparkling water)