DIVERSIFICATION OF POLISH AGRI-FOOD EXPORTS

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present the changes in the degree of geographical and product diversification of Polish agri-food exports in the years 2004-2022. The agri-food sector is a very important part of the Polish economy. It is also one of the few branches of the national economy that obtains a positive trade balance. The value of Polish agri-food exports reaches record levels every year. The strong concentration of Polish exports on the EU market, which accounts for over 70% of foreign sales, initially supported its development, currently is increasingly perceived as a threat to the agri-food sector in Poland. One of the most important ways to reduce risk in exports is to diversify them. The study assessed the product and geographical diversification of Polish agri-food exports based on the analysis of trade flows, the indicator of decomposition of export growth into intensive and extensive activities (based on the Amsoff matrix) and Herfindahla-Hirschmana (HHI) concentration indicators. The results of the analysis showed that the current increase in Polish agri-food exports was generated through intensive activities, i.e. increasing share of existing products in the existing market by acquiring new customers. In practice, it most often came down to lowering prices and taking advantage of the economies of scale. Currently, however, the possibilities of further competition on price are very limited. Therefore, entrepreneurs should strive to look for new markets for their products, but also to expand their offer with new or modified products with greater added value.