Poland is ideally located in the center of the European continent, in the eastern part of the European Union. It has 3511 km of borders with seven countries: Germany in the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the south, Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania in the east and the Russian Department of Kaliningrad in the north of the country. The surface area of Poland is 312,679 km2 and the number of inhabitants exceeds 37.8 million.

Poland’s geographical location, an obligatory hub between important economic centers such as Paris and Moscow, or Stockholm and Budapest, makes it a distribution platform in the countries of the area. The Baltic Sea in the north, with ports in Gdynia, Gdansk and Szczecin, allows access to this market not only by road but also by sea.

Within the European Union, Poland ranks fifth in terms of number of inhabitants, after Germany, France, Italy and Spain, and in terms of area after France, Spain, Sweden and Germany. The population density is 121 inhabitants per square kilometer. About 60% of the population lives in cities.

Poland was the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to begin the transition from a centrally planned to a free market economy. The transition started under very adverse conditions, determined by a high inflation rate, a pronounced shortage of consumer goods and a highly centralized production system.

In 2024, the country’s GDP grew by 2.9%, one of the best results among the European Union countries. The forecast for the end of 2025 is for a growth of 3.2 – 3.3%.

The level of inflation in 2024 has dropped considerably compared to previous years, standing at a level of 3.6%, and 2025 is expected to end with an even lower rate.

Unemployment remains low – in 2024 it was 5.1%.

Interest rates since November 2025 stand at 4.25%. The average monthly salary in Poland is at a level of €2,104.

Poland’s main trading partners are mainly the European Union countries and the United States for exports and the EU countries, Great Britain, China and South Korea for imports. The leading country in both areas is Germany.

The main advantages of the Polish market are above all the location (heart of Europe), a strong development of infrastructures of all types (roads, railways, public buildings, stations, etc.), the emergence of new and numerous connections between different parts of the country, growing purchasing power, an increasing number of online stores, among others.

A major land communication initiative underway is the Via Carpathia, an international route project running along Poland’s eastern border from Budzisko (the country’s border with Lithuania), Suwałki, Ełk, Białystok, Lublin, Rzeszów to Barwinek (border with Slovakia). Via Carpathia will allow connection from Klaipeda and Kaunas in Lithuania through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria to Greece.

Apart from a strong development of a road network linking more and more points in the country, facilitating transportation, in 2018 the project for the construction of a central CPK airport was launched with the idea of becoming an air hub in the region and one of the most important in the European Union, supported by a railroad network for high-speed trains connecting it with the main Polish cities. It is planned to open in 2032.

Poland also has a network of local airports with direct connections to various European cities.

The city of Lodz in the center of the country has an international airport with a cargo terminal as well as a rail container terminal with regular connections to China as part of the New Silk Road between Chengdu and Lodz, crucial for trade between Asia and Europe.

For several years Poland has been attracting foreign investors, several of which have set up their factories here: Merloni Indesit and Bosch/Siemens, Gillette (largest factory in the world), Hutchinson, Dell, Adient Seating Poland, Autorobot Strefa, BMZ Poland, General Motors Manufacturing Poland, Toyota, ABM Greiffenberger, Sitech, Sanden Manufacturing Polska, Gates Polska, Volkswagen Motor Polska, among others.

Spanish companies present in the market include Acciona, Ferrovial, Grupo Lar, Aldesa, Fagor, Himoinsa, Siemens Gamesa, Windar Renovables (factory under construction since this year), Iberdrola, Andamur, Mecalux, Roca, Grupo Antolin, Gestamp, Banco Santander, Inditex, among others.

This drives the development not only of large cities but also of medium-sized towns that, thanks to the economic situation of the country and in several cases also the support of the different European funds, have achieved a leap towards modernity, attracting companies to locate their facilities in these areas.

Also, several Spanish companies that have not set up their factories or opened subsidiaries sell their products to different sectors either through intermediaries (agricultural equipment and inputs, cosmetics, natural stone, among others, not to mention wine and food) or directly to end customers (machines for the assembly of components for different industries, machinery for the manufacture of equipment and products for different sectors).

The strongest sectors of the Polish economy, apart from food and agriculture, are mainly cosmetics, furniture, footwear, household appliances, automotive components, industrial plants and equipment, wood and wood products, aircraft and satellite components, as well as drones.

In Poland there is a large and diversified demand for products, which creates optimal conditions for foreign trade, both on the part of large and medium-sized companies, as well as small foreign exporters. The prospects for the main sectors of Spanish exports are very good, as they are complementary to the production of Polish companies.

It is also worth noting Poland’s key role as a gateway to Ukraine since 2022. One of the most important events for the future reconstruction of this country, Rebuild Ukraine is being held in Warsaw and offers a meeting place to establish contacts at both local and European institutional level.

From the delegation of amec in Poland we are at the disposal of the member companies to support them in entering this market through the search for partners and local customers.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a successful New Year 2026 in all fields.