Why this is important to Wisconsin businesses: Wisconsin exporters may find opportunities to provide advanced technologies and other products and services to food-related manufacturers.
Poland’s economy was the best performer in its region in 2024—and that bodes well for the country’s food industry.
According to the Central European Times, the Polish economy recorded a 2.9% increase in its gross domestic product (GDP), outpacing peer nations in Central and Eastern Europe, according to an ING Bank analysis that cited Poland’s StatOffice.
The main reason for the strong GDP showing is that people in Poland were buying more products in 2024. Household consumption rose by 3.1%, a notable improvement from the 0.3% contraction in 2023, the report said.
Along with the upbeat GDP, the food industry is improving. Prices have stabilized and new markets for Polish products are emerging. In addition to Germany and the United Kingdom, Asia is becoming an increasingly important export market. Countries such as the Philippines are now importing Polish meat and Poland is the key supplier of dairy products to South Korea.
As those exports increase, the Polish food industry needs to invest in new technologies such as automation and digitalization that will help increase capacity and improve efficiency.
Maspex, the largest food group in Poland, invested about $158 million into its production capacities, logistics, and new technologies in 2024. Family-owned businesses are also investing in automation to expand and optimize their offerings. Poland is the third-largest producer of poultry meat worldwide, and PwC forecasts an annual growth rate of 1.3% by 2029.
Wisconsin companies with advanced technologies for the food industry can access the rest of the European market through connections in Poland, as Poland is a member of the European Union. Additional advantages include lower production costs in Poland compared to other Western countries, and a well-educated labor force.
To find out more about opportunities in Poland, Wisconsin companies may want to consider attending conferences such as WorldFood Poland, held in Warsaw.
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