Poland has surpassed Germany to become Ukraine's second-largest supplier, trailing only China, as exports surge despite the ongoing war, according to Rzeczpospolita.
Polish shipments to Ukraine reached €11.4 billion in 2023, a significant jump from €6.3 billion in 2021. This surge comes amid an overall slowdown in Polish trade, with increased demand for fuels, vehicles, and defense-related goods driving the growth.
Imports from Ukraine have grown more modestly, peaking at €6 billion in 2022 before declining to €4.2 billion in 2023. Nevertheless, Ukraine's share of Poland’s total exports has risen notably, climbing to 3.6% in the first three quarters of 2024, compared to 2.1% before the war.
Poland sees deepening economic ties with Ukraine as a strategic priority, especially as Ukraine moves closer to European Union membership. Infrastructure investments, including logistics hubs in cities like Rzeszów, are viewed as critical for facilitating Ukraine's postwar recovery and rebuilding efforts.
In a notable move, the Polish Development Fund (PFR) recently made its first investment in Ukraine's IT sector by supporting the consolidation of five tech companies under the Euvic Group. Officials believe such initiatives will position Polish companies to play a key role in Ukraine’s future reconstruction efforts. Photo by Noobuster007, Wikimedia commons.