White goods, yachts and silver were among Polish export hits in 2022. According to Forbes, however, the biggest increase, compared to last year, was recorded in the export of arms and ammunition.

According to the Central Statistical Office, by July the value of Polish exports totalled €193.7 billion, 19.3% more than in the same period last year. The main export products were machinery and mechanical equipment as well as electronic equipment, which accounted for 24.3% of the total.

A key component of this category is white goods. According to data from the industry organisation APPLiA, last year Poland produced around 40 % of large household appliances in the EU, giving Poland the leading position and the title of the second largest exporter of household appliances in the world.

The second place was occupied by manufacturers of base metals, which account for 11% of all Polish exports. They are primarily cast iron, steel, copper, nickel, aluminium, lead, zinc and tin. Poland is also among the global leaders in silver production. Last year, the KGHM Group, the second largest producer of this metal in the world, produced almost 1,400 tonnes of silver.

The top is also occupied by manufacturers of vehicles, aircraft and vessels. In this area, Polish export hit are yachts. Polish companies place a strong emphasis on quality and the selection of materials, but at the same time benefit from lower labour costs, so they are able to produce more cheaply.

The largest increase was recorded in exports of arms and ammunition. Sales of this commodity are not large, amounting to €313 million between January and July this year. However, this is an increase of more than 422 % compared to the same period in 2021. In no other category has there been such a large increase.

The spike in exports, by more than 370%, also applies to works of art, collectables, and antiques. The value of this category for the first seven months of the year is €683 million.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński