The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the sixth largest economy in the world. It is a rich, absorptive market that exporters from around the globe compete for.
Compared with Poland (16% of GDP) or Germany (19% of GDP), UK manufacturing accounts for only 8.6% of value added to GDP. The British import many products they do not produce themselves. As a result, in 2023 goods imports reached GBP 581 billion against exports of GBP 394 billion, giving a goods trade deficit of GBP 187 billion.
Meanwhile, the value of Polish goods sent to the UK is steadily growing. In the first half of 2024, the UK was Poland’s fourth-largest export market, worth EUR 9.4 billion – an increase of 8.1% compared with the same period in 2023.
The boom in economic relations between Poland and the UK benefits Polish exporters above all in sectors such as food, furniture, construction, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, though growth prospects also extend to other segments of the products and services market.
The acquisition of British companies by Polish firms is an increasingly common phenomenon. In doing so, Polish entrepreneurs avoid many administrative problems (including those arising from Brexit), but above all they acquire the brand, production facilities, distribution systems, employees and customers. Access to markets beyond the UK and to cheaper British financing is also a significant factor.
If you are interested in doing business in the UK, the British-Polish Chamber of Commerce is an excellent platform for exchanging knowledge and experience, both with experts who professionally handle market-entry processes and with companies already operating in the UK market.
In this section of the portal you will find essential information on expanding into the UK market – from preparing your strategy, through the terms and rules of doing business, logistics, customs and VAT, establishing cooperation with agents and distributors, to marketing, e-commerce and payments.
