INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE DAIRY SECTOR IN POLAND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The aim of the study has been to evaluate the active internationalization of the dairy sector in Poland during the Covid-19 pandemic. The restrictions that were system-wise imposed globally since early 2020 created new conditions for the functioning of markets, also in the international dimension. As a result, production, logistic and consumption processes were considerably altered. The research subject was the dairy sector, which is an important link in the Polish food economy. The study covered years 2020-2021, showing the changes relative to the previous time periods. The literature perusal and analysis of the statistical data concerning the Polish foreign trade enabled us to confirm the hypothesis that food markets, including the dairy sector, are an important anchor of the Polish economy in times of crisis. The strong position of the Polish dairy products on international markets was maintained and even strengthened at the end of the researched period. A relatively high degree of the geographical diversification of the internationalization of the dairy sector compared to the whole agricultural and food sector was observed. It can be expected that the business solutions developed during the pandemic will additionally reinforce enterprises from the dairy sector in the future.