Polish agriculture confronts rising import competition amid stronger EU grain exports

Polish poultry producers are warning that new competition from outside the European Union could undermine the sector’s position as the EU’s largest poultry exporter. A pending EU‑Mercosur trade agreement would allow a duty‑free quota of 180,000 t of poultry meat from Mercosur countries such as Brazil and Argentina, while imports from Ukraine and China are also increasing. Deputy agriculture minister Adam Nowak said, “Polish farms must meet standards not required of third‑country products,” and the ministry is preparing regulations to prevent non‑compliant meat from entering the Polish market.

In the same period, the European Union’s overall grain exports rose by roughly 5 million t to 36.86 million t, a 16 % increase, as Ukrainian shipments fell by an equivalent amount. Poland’s port exports of wheat grew, but domestic grain markets are slowing, with some local grain collectors reporting price cuts of 20–30 zł and reduced trading activity.