The food industry in Poland is one of the developing sectors and one of the key elements of the Polish economy. Sales of foodstuffs account for more than 16% of sold output of the whole industry (CSO, 2017). The sector is developing dynamically, as indicated by both long-term and short-term data.
According to the Central Statistical Office (CSO, 2016.a) for the period 2005-2016, the value of global food production increased from around € 27.5 billion (in 2005) to € 48 billion (in 2016), which is an increase of 74 %. In May 2017 (compared to 2016), sales increased by approximately 8.4% (CSO, 2017).
Exports of agri-food products account for about 12.4% of all exports and their imports accounts for about 8.6%. The value of turnover alone with food products amounted to € 17.5 billion for exports and € 10 billion for imports (CSO, 2017).
Structure of gross agricultural output by products (CSO 2016.b):
– Animal output (51,4%), of which: animal for slaughter (27,6%), cows’ milk (17,1%),
– Crop output (48,6%), of which: cereals (15,6%) industrial outputs (6,1%) and others (8,5%).
Production of main crops in 2015 were the following (per 1 ha of agricultural land):
– Basic cereals 1546 kg (of which: wheat – 753 kg, rye – 138 kg, barley – 204 kg, oats – 84 kg, triticale – 367 kg),
– Potatoes – 423 kg,
– Sugar beets – 644 kg,
– Rape and turnip rape – 186 kg,
– Total vegetables – 330 kg.
The sown area amounted (in thous.):
– Cereals – 7512 ha (of which: wheat – 2051 ha, rye – 684 ha, barley – 762 ha, oats – 448 ha, triticale – 1450 ha),
– Pulses for grain – 407 ha,
– Potatoes – 292 ha,
– Industrial – 1191 ha,
– Feed – 1056 ha,
– Other crops – 158 ha.
Figure 1. presents the cereals production (in %).
Figure 1. the structure of the cereals production in 2015
Source: CSO (2016.b)
The detailed structure of basic cereals production (as a % of total cereals production) in 2015 was the following:
– wheat – 44,87%,
– rye – 9,59%,
– barley – 13,32%,
– oats – 6,14%,
– triticale – 26,08%.
Average paid employment amounted in 2015 – 383 thousand, and increase on 1 percentage point since 2005. The average payment in this sector amounted 3170 PLN (approx. 792 EUR) and increased on 71% since 2005 (CSO 2016.b). In compare, the average payment in Poland amounted in 2015 – 4040 (approx. 1000 EUR).
Bibliography:
CSO (2017), Informacja o sytuacji społeczno-gospodarczej kraju w maju 2017 r., Ed. The Central Statistical Office, Warsaw, 23rd June.
CSO (2016.a), Statistical Yearbook of Industry – Poland, Ed. The Central Statistical Office, Warsaw.
CSO (2016.b), Statistical Yearbook of Agriculture – Poland, Ed. The Central Statistical Office, Warsaw.
Photo: Mikali (on pixabay.com)
