AI Boom Opens Up New Export Opportunities for Poland and Hungary
Central European economies are emerging as unexpected winners of the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Poland and Hungary are seeing strong growth in exports related to AI infrastructure as companies expand their supply chains beyond the traditional manufacturing sector.
Although the region is neither among the leading producers of advanced semiconductors nor among the developers of the world’s most important AI technologies, analysts see significant opportunities. The industrial base, skilled workforce, and established production networks could secure Poland and Hungary a larger share of the growing market for servers, electronics, and other AI-related hardware.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) stated in its report “Regional Economic Outlook 2026” that exports of AI-related products are growing significantly faster than other product categories. This is supporting economic growth—especially at a time when traditional industries such as automotive manufacturing are suffering from weaker demand.
“One bright spot is that the AI boom in the United States is generating strong demand for goods related to AI activities, including processors, optical devices, communications technology, and computer hardware,” EBRD Chief Economist Beata Javorcik told IntelliNews.
According to the report, Hungary’s exports of AI-related products rose by 42% year-over-year in 2025, while Poland recorded 21% growth. By comparison, China’s exports of such products increased by 19% during the same period.
The EBRD attributes this trend, among other things, to shifts in global trade flows resulting from higher U.S. import tariffs. Products for data centers and AI supply chains benefited in particular.
Hungary Benefits from the AI Manufacturing Boom
This shift is particularly evident in Hungary. While the automotive industry remains the country’s most important industrial sector, recent export growth is increasingly driven by the production of electronics and AI servers.
According to the Hungarian business portal Portfolio.hu, production of computers, electronics, and optical devices rose by 43% in May. The main driver was the growing demand for servers for AI applications.
A key player is Cloud Network Technology, a subsidiary of the Taiwanese conglomerate Foxconn. The company manufactures server systems for AI infrastructure and cloud computing in Komárom and is now one of Hungary’s largest exporters. In 2025, the company generated revenue of 2.6 trillion forint (7.2 billion euros), making it the third-largest company in the country after MOL and MVM.
Foxconn also announced that it would expand its workforce at the site to over 2,000 employees, following the hiring of more than 900 workers in 2025.
The expansion is part of a broader strategy by international technology conglomerates to shift production capacity closer to European customers while reducing dependence on Asian supply chains. The Hungarian government is supporting this development with investment incentives and the expansion of industrial infrastructure.
The positive effects are already evident in the economic data. Although Hungarian industrial production fell by 0.4% year-over-year in May, it rose by 5.4% on a working-day-adjusted basis. New orders in the manufacturing sector rose by as much as 13.6%, while the order backlog was 41% higher than the previous year’s level.
Poland is focusing on productivity gains
In the long term, Poland could benefit even more from the AI boom. According to the World Bank, the greatest potential lies not only in exports but, above all, in higher productivity gains across the entire economy.
In a report published in June, the World Bank estimates that artificial intelligence could increase Poland’s real gross domestic product by 1.3 to 12.1% by 2035, depending on the pace of adoption.
“Poland is well-positioned to leverage AI as a source of productivity, better jobs, and economic growth,” said Ary Naïm, the World Bank’s Country Director for Poland.
Currently, however, only about 8% of Polish companies use AI technologies. The World Bank therefore emphasizes that economic success will depend less on access to the technology than on its successful integration into business processes.
The large business services sector, in particular, is likely to undergo significant changes. Routine tasks could increasingly be automated, while skilled jobs will gain in importance. Retraining programs and investments in digital skills are therefore crucial.
Infrastructure Is Key to Success
BNP Paribas Economic Research also sees Central Europe as well-positioned to benefit from the AI boom. While the region does not have significant semiconductor production, it does have a well-educated workforce and a robust industrial infrastructure.
According to the analysts’ assessment, countries that establish themselves in global AI supply chains will benefit not only from higher exports but also from growing strategic importance. Globally, Asian economies continue to dominate, accounting for more than 85% of semiconductor exports and around 65% of AI-related product exports. Nevertheless, new opportunities are emerging for European electronics hubs in the expansion of data centers, servers, and other AI infrastructure.
BNP Paribas anticipates that the economic benefits will initially stem primarily from investments in infrastructure. The actual productivity gains are likely to follow only with a broader adoption of the technology.
For Poland and Hungary, the key challenge lies in transforming their current export successes into sustainable economic growth. To achieve this, investments in digital infrastructure, education, and skilled workers are just as necessary as the expansion of higher-value-added industrial production.
Despite an overall challenging economic environment, the EBRD views the expanding AI supply chains as a key driver of growth for Central Europe. For economies that have traditionally been heavily dependent on the automotive industry, the AI boom thus opens up new prospects for exports and development.