Poland imported US$381.2 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2022.

That dollar amount results from a 42.4% increase in Polish spending compared to $267.7 billion in imports for 2018.

Year over year, the dollar value of Poland’s imports inflated by 13.6% from $335.5 billion during 2021.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2022, the Polish złoty declined by -23.4% against the US dollar since 2018 and dropped by -15.4% from 2021 to 2022. Poland’s weaker local currency makes imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the Polish złoty.

Poland’s Most Valuable Suppliers for Imported Products

The latest available country-specific data shows that 71.4% of products imported into Poland were furnished by exporters in: Germany (25.4% of the global total), mainland China (10.4%), Netherlands (6.3%), Italy (4.7%), Russia (4.2%), Czech Republic (3.74%), Belgium (3.72%), France (3.4%), United State (3.2%), Spain (2.12%), Slovakia (2.09%) and Sweden (2.09%).

From a continental perspective, almost three-quarters (73.2%) of Poland’s total imports by value were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners supplied 20.9% of the value for import products bought by Poland.

Smaller percentages originated from North America (3.5%), Latin America (1.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.9%), then Oceania (0.3%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Poland’s population of 37.7 million people, its total $381.2 billion in 2022 imports translates to roughly $10,100 in yearly product demand from every person in the Central European country. That dollar metric exceeds the average $8,900 per capita one year earlier in 2021.

Poland’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Poland’s import purchases during 2022. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Poland.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$46.8 billion (12.3% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $41.8 billion (11%)
3. Mineral fuels including oil: $37.4 billion (9.8%)
4. Vehicles: $28.7 billion (7.5%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: $21.1 billion (5.5%)
6. Iron, steel: $15.9 billion (4.2%)
7. Pharmaceuticals: $10.2 billion (2.7%)
8. Articles of iron or steel: $8.4 billion (2.2%)
9. Aluminum: $7.5 billion (2%)
10. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $7.2 billion (1.9%)

Poland’s top 10 imports accounted for almost three-fifths (59%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Mineral fuels including oil recorded the strongest increase in cost among Poland’s top 10 import categories, up by 78.1% from 2021 to 2022.

Polish spending on imported pharmaceuticals grew by 23.1% year over year.

Also rising by double-digits were Poland’s international purchases of aluminum via a 16.5% gain since 2021.

The lone declining product category Poland’s imports of plastics both as materials and items made from plastic via a -2.4% reduction.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information below drills down at the more granular 4-digit level.

At the more detailed 4-digit HTS code level, Poland’s 10 biggest imported products are crude oil (4.3% of Poland’s imported total), cars (3%), automobile parts or accessories (2.4%), processed petroleum oils (2.3%), phone devices including smartphones (1.7%), medication mixes in dosage (1.5%), coal including solid fuels made from coal (also 1.5%), computers including optical readers (1.4%), electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies (1%), and blood fractions including antisera (also 1%).

Combined, those 10 leading import products amount to about one-fifth (20.1%) of the total value for all Polish imports.

Poland’s Major Imports of Electrical Products

In 2022, Polish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including computers.

1. Phone system devices including smartphones: US$6.6 billion (up 0.7% from 2021)
2. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $3.9 billion (up 2.3%)
3. Electric storage batteries: $3.4 billion (up 10.2%)
4. Insulated wire/cable: $2.7 billion (up 3%)
5. Electrical converters/power units: $2.5 billion (up 32.6%)
6. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $2.5 billion (up 47.4%)
7. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $2.4 billion (down -1.8%)
8. Recorded media including records, tapes: $2.3 billion (2021 data unavailable)
9. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $2.2 billion (down -3.6%)
10. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $1.7 billion (down -1%)

Among these import subcategories, Polish purchases of solar power diodes and semi-conductors (up 47.4%), electrical converters or power units (up 32.6%) then electric storage batteries (up 10.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Polish businesses and consumers.

Poland’s Major Imports of Machinery Products

In 2022, Polish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$5.2 billion (up 3% from 2021)
2. Turbo-jets: $3.4 billion (up 29.7%)
3. Computer parts, accessories: $2.6 billion (up 6%)
4. Piston engine parts: $2.2 billion (up 14.6%)
5. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.82 billion (down -5.8%)
6. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $1.75 billion (up 6.2%)
7. Air or vacuum pumps: $1.73 billion (down -5.2%)
8. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.69 billion (down -4.6%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $1.42 billion (up 7.5%)
10. Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.37 billion (down -6.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Polish purchases of turbo-jets (up 29.7%), piston engine parts (up 14.6%) then miscellaneous machinery (up 7.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Polish businesses and consumers.

Poland’s Major Imports of Mineral Fuels

In 2022, Polish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels including oil.

1. Crude oil: US$16.5 billion (up 45.7% from 2021)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $8.9 billion (up 83%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $5.7 billion (up 282.1%)
4. Electrical energy: $3.4 billion (up 227.3%)
5. Petroleum gases: $1.7 billion (up 27.7%)
6. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $409.4 million (up 11%)
7. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $198.6 million (up 13.7%)
8. Petroleum oil residues: $181 million (up 74.7%)
9. Tar pitch, coke: $81.9 million (up 25.1%)
10. Coke, semi-coke: $63.2 million (down -7.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Polish purchases of coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 282.1%), electrical energy (up 227.3%) then processed petroleum oils (up 83%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported mineral fuels-related products among Polish businesses and consumers.

Poland’s Major Imports of Vehicles and Related Products

In 2022, Polish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles and related products.

1. Cars: US$11.4 billion (up 11% from 2021)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $9 billion (up 3.2%)
3. Tractors: $2.8 billion (down -3.4%)
4. Trucks: $2.1 billion (down -11.9%)
5. Trailers: $1.3 billion (down -5.5%)
6. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $550.5 million (up 6.7%)
7. Automobile bodies: $413.2 million (up 4.4%)
8. Motorcycles: $300.4 million (up 11.1%)
9. Armored vehicles, tanks: $198.6 million (up 359.9%)
10. Special purpose vehicles: $196.3 million (up 24.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Polish purchases of armored vehicles such as tanks (up 359.9%), special purpose vehicles (up 24.6%) then motorcycles (up 11.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Polish businesses and consumers.
 

See also Poland’s Top Trading Partners, Poland’s Top 10 Exports, Czech Republic’s Top Trading Partners and Germany’s Top Trading Partners

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 15, 2023

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on May 15, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 15, 2023

Wikipedia, Poland. Accessed on May 15, 2023