China Overtakes Germany: 15.9% Share of Polish Imports

Poland’s imports of goods totaled 143.5 billion zloty in July, up 14.3% from a year earlier. That month, China supplied more goods to Poland than Germany for the first time. The National Bank of Poland (NBP) released the figures on Monday in its balance of payments report.

“In July 2026, China became Poland’s largest supplier of goods for the first time, surpassing Germany,” the NBP writes. The bank also explains the reason: “A significant increase in imports of computer equipment, passenger cars, and durable consumer goods has changed the geographic structure of imports.”

Since the end of communism, Germany had topped this list. Before that, the Soviet Union dominated Poland’s foreign trade.

Cars and Computers Drive the Shift

Analysts at PKO Research have calculated how rapidly the balance of trade is shifting. Poland’s imports from China rose by 28.8% year-over-year in July. Imports from Germany fell by 1.8% in the same month. The gap is even more pronounced for motor vehicles: Imports from Germany fell by 9.3%, while those from China rose by 54.4%. Imports of computers, electronics, and optical equipment from China grew by 31.5%—the strongest growth since 2022.

PKO Research puts this monthly figure into perspective: One-time effects contributed to the surge, but over a 12-month period, Germany remains the largest supplier. However, its lead has been shrinking for years.

Germany’s share drops to 18.6%

The annual figures confirm the trend. The Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS) released trade data for January through July on Tuesday. During this period, Poland imported goods worth 43.1 billion euros from Germany. This represents 18.6% of total imports, down from 19.4% in the same period last year. Imports from China totaled 36.7 billion euros, accounting for 15.9%, up from 14.9%. The United States follows with 12.7 billion euros and a 5.5% share, up from 4.9%.

Measured in zloty, imports from Germany grew by 2.0%, those from China by 13.2%, and those from the U.S. by 20.1%. The EU’s share of Polish imports fell to 52.5%, down from 53.5% a year earlier.

Germany remains the undisputed leader in exports. From January through July, Poland shipped goods worth 59.7 billion euros to Germany, accounting for 26.3% of total exports. A year ago, that figure was 27.2%. Total Polish exports rose by 6.0% to 961.0 billion zloty, while imports increased by 6.4% to 979.6 billion zloty. The trade deficit stood at 18.6 billion złoty, or 4.4 billion euros, compared to 3.2 billion euros in the same period last year.

What this means for German exporters: The Polish market is growing, but it is growing past German suppliers. Poland’s imports rose by 6.4% overall, while German shipments increased by only 2.0%. Those selling machinery, vehicles, or electronics to Poland are losing market share to Chinese competitors. The shift is happening fastest in the automotive sector. German suppliers should review their prices and delivery times against the Chinese competition while they still hold a lead.

Sources: Narodowy Bank Polski, Balance of Payments July 2026 (PL) · Główny Urząd Statystyczny, Foreign Trade January–July 2026 (PL) · PKO Research (PL)

SK, Frankfurt