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According to the British Office of National Statistics, 2006 was a
record year for British-Polish trade, which grew by over 72% compared
to 2005, a faster rate than for any major UK trading partner.
British exports, which for the past decade had been growing at a slow
pace (value of British exports to Poland in 2005 was only some 22%
higher than in 1996, suddenly surged by 69% - from £1.65
billion in 2005 to £2.79 billion in 2006. As a result, Poland
jumped in the ranking of Britain's largest export markets from 26th
place in 2005 to 18th place in 2006, overtaking such traditional
markets as India, Australia or South Africa.
At the same time, Polish exports to the UK continued the same strong
upward trend that they have been following for several years, rising by
73% - the fastest year-on-year rate of growth ever.
Martin Oxley, chief executive of the British Polish Chamber of
Commerce, said: 'Finally British exporters have woken up to the
opportunities that the Polish market has to offer. After 10 years of
slow growth, we have seen a breakthrough. Our message has got through
Poland is a good place to do business with. And we hope that
rapidly-rising exports are a lead indicator of future investment. A
British company currently trading with Poland whether importing or
exporting may look at a joint venture with its Polish partners,
eventually maybe making an acquisition'.
The fastest-growing categories of Polish exports to the UK were
electrical and electronic products, which grew by more than threefold
in value to over GBP 500m. Included in this latter category are
flat-screen TVs. Martin Oxley added: 'From next year, Britain will be
making the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting. Viewers will
have to choose between buying a digital adapter for their existing
televisions, or to buy a new, digital-ready, flat-screen
TV set.
Poland, which has been successfully courting foreign investors
in this field, manufacturers such as LG Phillips, Daewoo and Samsung,
is now reaping the economic benefits. One in every three flat-screen
TVs made in Europe comes from Poland.
Food is another fast-growing category. In 2005, Polish agri-food
exports to the UK totalled GBP 215m, this year they are likely to be
worth around GBP 295 – GBP 305m, up from GBP 215m in 2005. '600,000
Poles in the UK are missing their kiełbasa, bigos and pierogi,'
explains Martin Oxley.
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Cars, which have traditionally been the leading category also grew.
'Poland exports its Fiats and Opels to the UK, which in turn exports
its Hondas, Nissans and Toyotas to Poland', observed Martin Oxley.
Polish exports of
vehicles and car parts to the UK more than doubled (from GBP160m to GBP
320m), while British exports of cars to Poland stayed broadly flat
(around GBP 170m).
More Information:
Michael Dembiński, Director of Policy and Development
British Polish Chamber of Commerce
Tel: 0. 22 320 01 05, kom: 0.606 696 92 00
e-mail:
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NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Source:
Overall data for UK-Polish trade from Office of National Statistics
www.statistics.gov.uk
Data by category from UK Trade and Investment
www.uktrade.info.com
Last year, the BPCC's Polish Exporters' Roadshow series of seminars
visited 16 Polish cities and attracted over 600 Polish SMEs interested
in exporting to the UK. This Roadshow continues in 2007 and will visit
at least 18 Polish cities this year. The BPCC's 4th Annual Conference
takes place on 23-24 April at the Novotel Warszawa Centrum, and is the
largest British-Polish trade and investment event of the year. It is a
chance for British and Polish entrepreneurs to make new business
contacts and win new export orders. In the UK, the BPCC last year
organised 14 meetings with British entrepreneurs, covering various
topics concerning trade with and investment in Poland.
The Chamber has launched a series of sector forums, bringing together
firms from specific parts of the economy. In November, it organised an
agri-food forum, at which major UK buyers met Polish producers and food
processors; last week it organised an automotive sector forum aimed at
introducing Polish manufacturers into the UK industry's supply chain.
The next sector forum takes place on 7 May in Warsaw and focuses on the
energy industry.
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