Poland corn market faces crisis due to gas shortages

The Polish corn market is experiencing significant disruption as high gas prices and limited propane availability hinder the drying of harvested grain. Many drying facilities have suspended operations, leading some collection points to sell off accumulated stock to minimize losses. This shortage has caused grain prices to drop below 600 PLN per ton in some regions.

Industry experts and agricultural organizations, including the National Council of Agricultural Chambers and the Lublin Agricultural Chamber, have called for urgent government intervention. They cite rising propane costs, which have increased from approximately 2 PLN to over 3.20 PLN per liter, and potential supply shortages caused by Baltic storms delaying shipments at ports in Gdansk and Szczecin.

The crisis affects approximately 1.4 million hectares of corn cultivation. While some regions like eastern Wielkopolska report high yields, the high moisture content of the grain necessitates rapid drying, making the fuel shortage a critical threat to the profitability of the 2026 harvest.