Poland is an important global exporter of products whose importance and popularity increases during the Christmas season. Chocolate confectionery, toys and Christmas tree baubles are shipped from Poland to all continents.

Poland is the world’s 4th largest exporter of chocolate products by value, with a share of 7.1 % in 2021. At that time, chocolates, pralines and other chocolate products originating from Poland worth EUR 1.98 billion were sold abroad, by 7.7 % more than in 2020, reports the Polish Economic Institute.

Germany is the largest buyer of Polish chocolate products, with over 22.5 % of exports share in 2021. The UK was also important, but its share declined from 17 % to 14.9 % between 2020 and 2021, which may be related to its exit from the single European market at the beginning of 2021. In contrast, the following markets have gained in importance: France, the Netherlands, the United States, Belgium and Denmark.

Poland is also the 8th global exporter of classic toys with a share of 1.7 % in world exports of this commodity group in 2021. The leader on the list is China, while from the EU countries Poland is only overtaken by the Czech Republic, Germany and the Netherlands. Between 2019 and 2021, the value of Polish toy exports increased by as much as 54 %, to EUR 1.06 billion.

Polish products include construction sets and toys (e.g. building blocks), reduction models (copies of real objects), teddy bears, puzzles (made of wood and other materials), cars and dolls. The largest recipients of Polish toys are Germany (42.5 % in 2021), the Czech Republic (9.8 %), Hungary, France, and Austria (around 5 % each), as well as the USA and Italy.

The export value of Polish baubles and Christmas ornaments amounted to more than EUR 60 million in 2021, which ranks Poland fifth in the world among exporters of this assortment.

Adrian Andrzejewski