Newsletter March 2026

Expo-Surface, Kielce, 24.03.26, photo by Anna Golińczak, Spondeo

In this issue: Economic Update and Forecasts for 2026 | Brief Business News in Manufacturing, IT, Science, Logistics, Retail & FMCG | Energy Market Insights | Housing & Construction | Defense Sector Update | Finnish Companies Spotlight | Politics & Society | News from Ukraine | Events & Fairs

Economic indicators

Sources: GUS, NBP, Statista. Image by Spondeo

Poland climbing in Purchase Power statistics

New Eurostat data show Poland's GDP per capita in purchasing power standard (PPS) reached 81% of the EU average in 2025 - the highest ever. In 1995, it stood at just 44%. Poland has now caught up with Portugal (also 81%) and overtaken Greece (68%), though it remains behind the Czech Republic (92%). Poland's GDP grew 3.6% in 2025 - fourth-highest in the EU. The 37 percentage-point gain since 1995 is the sixth-largest improvement among all EU member states. Currently, Finland stands at pretty much in EU average. On capital level, Warsaw has higher PPS than Helsinki. Source

Inflation in Poland at 2.1% in February 2026

Consumer prices in Poland rose by 2.1% year-on-year in February 2026, driven by a 4.8% increase in services prices and a 1.0% rise in goods prices. On a monthly basis, prices increased by 0.3%, with services up 0.7% and goods 0.2%. Source, Source

Poland’s PMI falls to 47.1 in February, signaling deeper manufacturing contraction

Poland’s manufacturing PMI fell to 47.1 in February 2026 (from 48.8), signaling a continued contraction in the sector. The decline was driven by weaker new orders - especially exports - along with falling production, job cuts, and reduced purchasing activity. At the same time, input costs rose sharply, adding pressure on companies. Despite the downturn, firms remain cautiously optimistic about future demand. Source, Source

PMI index March in Poland 2026, design by Spondeo

Polish Central Bank cuts interest rates by 25 bps to 3.75%

The Monetary Policy Council (RPP) cut all National Bank of Poland (NBP) interest rates by 25 basis points in March 2026 meeting, bringing the main reference rate down to 3.75%, in line with market expectations. This was the first rate cut in 2026, following two months of unchanged policy, and continues the easing cycle after multiple reductions in 2025. The decision reflects improving inflation conditions and weaker economic data, while also taking into account global uncertainty. Source, Source

Interest rates March in Poland, design by Spondeo

Poland’s exports and imports decline in January

Poland’s exports fell by 5.1% year-on-year to 28.5 billion EUR in January 2026, while imports dropped more sharply by 8.6% to 27.9 billion EUR. The steeper drop in imports led to a trade surplus of 0.7 billion EUR, compared with a deficit a year earlier, indicating an improved external balance despite softer demand.

Trade with the biggest export partner, Germany, weakened - exports fell by 5.8% y/y to 7.7 billion EUR, while imports decreased by 1.9% to €5.4 billion, according to Statistics Poland (GUS). Source, Source

Main trade partners of Poland 2026, design by Spondeo

Unemployment in Poland edges Up to 6.1% in February

Poland’s unemployment rate rose to 6.1% in February 2026, up from 6.0% in January, with the number of registered unemployed reaching 956,200, higher both month-on-month and year-on-year. The increase was driven mainly by fewer people entering activation programs and fewer removals from unemployment registers, although the number of job vacancies rose by 16% to 30,500. Officials point to seasonal factors, including a harsh winter, as well as changes in registration rules. Overall, the data shows clearly slowly but gradually weakening labor market. Source

Unemployment rates 2026 Poland, design by Spondeo

Labour costs in Poland rise 7.3% YoY in Q4 2025

Nominal hourly labour costs in Poland increased by 7.3% year-on-year in Q4 2025, slowing slightly from 7.8% in the previous quarter and well below 13.8% a year earlier, according to Eurostat. Both wages and other labour cost components grew at the same 7.3% rate. By sector, labour costs rose by 7.3% in industry, 8.0% in construction, and 8.5% in services. Source

Poland consumer confidence weakened

Consumer sentiment weakened in March. The current confidence index fell 3.1 points to -12.2. The biggest drop was in views on the country's economic situation (-10.2 points) and future household finances (-2.1 points). The forward-looking index also dropped 2.5 points to -9.5. One brighter spot - households rate their current financial situation slightly better than last month. 

PRODUCTION & MANUFACTURING

VIGO Photonics (infrared detectors, 🇵🇱 PL) acquired US-based InfraRed Associates for ~7.8 million EUR, gaining local American manufacturing capacity critical for US defence contracts. Source

Bumech (mining equipment, 🇵🇱 PL) failed to complete a planned acquisition and is now looking for a new takeover target to drive its growth strategy. Source, Source

Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów (aerospace engines, 🇺🇸 US and PL) is investing hundreds of millions in dual-use technology at its Mielec facility, backed by the Industrial Development Agency (ARP). Source, Source.

BSH (home appliances manufacturing, 🇩🇪 DE) plans to invest ~58 mln EUR across its Polish factories in 2026, despite a cooling home appliances market in Europe. BSH has six plants in Poland employing 7,000 people. It is also planning a new ~140 mln EUR small-appliance factory near Rzeszów, set to open mid-2026. Source, Source.

Black Red White (furniture manufacturing, 🇵🇱 PL) is closing production at its Zamość plant in Q2 2026. Kitchen furniture output moves to factories in Biłgoraj and Mielec. Source

Experts from PKO BP (banking, 🇵🇱 PL) warn that rising fuel and energy prices will hurt energy‑intensive food‑processing sectors. Source

Maspex (food & beverages, 🇵🇱 PL) is investing ~198 million EUR (850 million PLN) to modernise its Łowicz juice plant with "AI-based production systems and eco-friendly technology". Source, Source

Polmlek (dairy, 🇵🇱 PL) is planning budget to spend on technology, automation and green energy by end-2026 - its largest-ever investment programme. Energy Minister Motyka visited the site and called for the dairy to be treated as a critical national infrastructure. Source

FoodHub S.A. (Polish 🇵🇱 ready-meal producer) is raising ~7 million EUR to fund product line development and market expansion. Details will be disclosed later. Source

Tarczyński (meat snacks, 🇵🇱 PL) secured a ~375 million EUR credit package from  banks PKO BP, BNP Paribas and Bank Millennium to expand kabanosy and frankfurter production capacity. Source, Source

HiProMine (insect protein biotech, 🇵🇱 PL) got FDA registration and can now export to the US. The company's facility was registered in the FDA's Food Facility Registration system as a foreign animal feed producer. Source

Społem Kielce (food production, 🇵🇱 PL), maker of the iconic Kielecki mayonnaise, is developing its factory in Kielce to make more products, because there is demand for it. Source

President of Cedrob (poultry processing, 🇵🇱 PL), Andrzej Goździkowski, has been appointed to the Business Council at the President of the Republic of Poland. Source

Indykpol (producer of turkey meat, 🇵🇱 PL) received an investment support decision from the Warmia-Mazury Special Economic Zone. The company plans to increase production capacity at its plant by apprx. 70m€ investment. Source

JBB (meat processing, 🇵🇱 PL) is investing about 17.5 million EUR to automate its packaging lines. It also develops the network of partner stores: recently in Sosnowiec and Chorzów. Source, Source

IT, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

NASK (state IT & cybersecurity agency, 🇵🇱 PL) cancelled a public tender after Polish cloud providers, led by Polska Chmura, (association of Polish cloud service providers) appealed the result. They argued the original tender unfairly favoured big tech companies (hyperscalers). The cancellation is seen as an early win for Poland's "local content" push in the public IT sector. Source

Spyrosoft (IT services, 🇵🇱 PL) acquired German IT firm MD Consulting (IT consulting, 🇩🇪 DE) for nearly 4.5 million EUR. Companies share the goal to grow its presence in Germany, especially in the public sector. Source, Source

Euvic (IT services, 🇵🇱 PL) acquired Finnish AI automation firm Moretime (business process automation, 🇫🇮 FI) for about 2.8 million EUR. Source

A 500 MW hyperscale data center campus is planned in Domiechowice (Łódź Voivodeship), covering over 50 hectares. Investors say it will be the largest data processing center in this part of Europe. Source

Apple (consumer tech, 🇺🇸 US) acquired Polish video tools company MotionVFX (video plugins, 🇵🇱 PL), based in Bielsko-Biała. The acquisition is meant to help Apple attract more subscribers to its recently launched Creator Studio package (a bundle of creative editing tools). Source, Source

CD Projekt (video games, 🇵🇱 PL) generated about 202 million EUR in revenue and around 139 million EUR in net profit in 2025, achieving a net margin of 60.1% and marking its second‑best year in history. The Group invested over 119 million EUR in future projects, focusing on The Witcher 4, Cyberpunk 2, and early development of its new IP, Hadar. Source

Former managers from 11 bit studios and the Erebor Capital fund teamed up to launch Ogham Interactive. The studio aims to create a unique game inspired by Saharan nomad culture within two years, with a potential stock‑market debut to follow. Source

The Alters by 11 bit studios S.A. (video games, 🇵🇱 PL) won a BAFTA award.The company also shared on Linkedin what other achievements they made in 2025. Source, Source

Allegro (e-commerce, 🇵🇱 PL) is adding medical services to its platform in March, in partnership with Lux Med Group (healthcare, 🇵🇱 PL). Travel and insurance services will follow in Q2 2026, as the company tries to grow beyond regular product sales. Source

Netflix (streaming & tech, 🇺🇸 US) opened a new office in Warsaw, which will host teams responsible for local content in Central and Eastern Europe. The company will hire 200 more engineers in Warsaw, expanding its only engineering hub outside the US. The company already employs over 300 people in Poland and has invested more than 3 mld PLN (~700 mln EUR) locally over 10 years. Source, Source

PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, FINANCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES

Poland's space industry is growing but still relies heavily on niche contracts. Without foreign sales, it’s quite hard for the sector to survive on its own. Source, Source

Creotech Instruments (space tech, satellites, 🇵🇱 PL) secured 6.1 million EUR in EU grants to develop a new satellite platform called SWAN. Total project cost is about 13.5 million EUR. The platform is designed for space missions carrying payloads of around 200 kg. Source

Unity Care (outpatient clinics, 🇵🇱 PL), backed by Enterprise Investors (private equity, 🇵🇱 PL), received an additional 12 million EUR in funding. Source

Enterprise Investors (private equity, 🇵🇱 PL) is investing up to 20.4 million EUR in 18GYM (fitness clubs, 🇷🇴 RO), a fast-growing Romanian gym chain with 37 locations. Source

Łukasiewicz Research Network (public R&D, 🇵🇱 PL) launched a 10-year space research programme with a budget of about 560 million EUR. Funding comes from the Network's own funds, defence budgets, and private sector partners. The program covers satellites, rockets, and space payloads. Source

AutonomyNow (AI safety systems for vehicles, 🇵🇱 PL) supplies AI-based driver assistance systems to European bus makers. The company is now expanding into trucks and the defence sector, with plans to supply autonomous military vehicle technology. Source, Source

BLIK (mobile payments, 🇵🇱 PL) processed 2.9 billion transactions in 2025, worth about 103 billion EUR in total. The user base grew to 20.7 million active accounts by the end of December. Source

🇸🇪 The Swedish king's recent visit to Poland was accompanied by a record business delegation of 65 companies. Source

Virtune (crypto asset management, 🇸🇪 SE) listed the first physically-backed crypto ETN products on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW), covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana. Poland is treated as a priority market. The company plans to launch up to 10 products on GPW in 2026. Source

Vinci (venture fund, part of BGK state development bank, 🇵🇱 PL) invested 14.6 million EUR in Mewo (offshore seabed surveys, 🇵🇱 PL). Mewo surveys the Baltic seabed for offshore wind developers, locating shipwrecks and unexploded munitions before turbine foundations are placed. Source, Source

Aider Polska (accounting & financial outsourcing, 🇳🇴 NO) acquired Ground Frost and Ground Frost Outsourcing - its first M&A deal after rebranding from MDDP Outsourcing. Source

Revolut (fintech, 🇬🇧 GB) is pushing to become a primary bank for Polish customers - the account where salaries land. The company is actively promoting salary transfers as a core product. Source

BGK (state development bank, 🇵🇱 PL) published a 12-year review of its de minimis guarantee programme. Since 2013, BGK has provided ~61 billion EUR in guarantees helping the businesses. BGK is also preparing new guarantee instruments for the defence and dual-use sector. Source

UOKiK (competition & consumer protection authority, 🇵🇱 PL) issued 900 decisions in 2025 and imposed ~268 million EUR (1.15 billion PLN) in fines. Of these, ~135 mln EUR (580 mln PLN) were for anti-competitive practices and ~127 mln EUR (545 mln PLN) for consumer rights violations. Source

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

Trans Polonia (liquid cargo transport, 🇵🇱 PL) wants to keep buying family-owned transport firms across Europe. The company plans to use bank financing and private equity funds for future deals. Source

Morele.net (electronics e-commerce, 🇵🇱 PL) upgraded its packaging line in-house and opened a new 5,600 sq meters warehouse. The system can now pack up to 1,800 parcels per hour. Source

EQT (private equity, real estate, 🇸🇪 SE) plans to invest 250 billion EUR across Europe in the next five years. Poland is a priority. The fund already holds about 2 billion EUR in Polish logistics properties and is actively buying more warehouses Source, Source

Amazon (e-commerce, 🇺🇸 US) plans to invest 5.4 billion EUR in Poland between 2026 and 2028. A new robotic distribution centre will open in Dobromierz, Lower Silesia in 2026. It will be Amazon's 12th logistics hub in Poland Source, Source

Poland's EV market had a record 2025, with over 43,000 electric cars registered - up 161% year on year. The government subsidy programme "NaszEauto" ran out of funds in January 2026, three months early. Sales dropped sharply after that, because there is no new subsidy programme confirmed yet. Source

LPP (fashion retail, 🇵🇱 PL) opened a new robotic warehouse near Bucharest, Romania, with nearly 1,100 robots. It can process over 80,000 orders per day and serves six countries in Southeast Europe. In the warehouse LPP implemented the Warehouse Management System - PSIwms. Source, Source

Eternis (gig economy fleet & billing services, 🇵🇱 PL) is expanding internationally after success in Poland. The company is already active in Romania and is launching in Czechia and Germany, then Croatia, Lithuania, and Spain. Revenue was ~163 million EUR  in 2025, with a 2026 target of ~198 million EUR. Source

RETAIL & FMCG

Retail sales rose 5.0% year-on-year in February-March, reversing a 0.5% drop in February 2025. Month-on-month sales fell 5.6% vs January. For January-February combined, sales are up 3.8% year-on-year. Clothing and food sales made the best numbers. Source

Shopper Park Plus (retail real estate, 🇭🇺 HU) bought eight Auchan hypermarket properties in Poland for over 210 million EUR. Auchan stays as the operator of all the stores under long-term lease agreements, so nothing changes for customers. Source

Żabka (convenience stores, 🇵🇱 PL) now has nearly 200 stores in Romania under the Froo brand. Company plans to open 1,300 new stores in 2026 across Poland and Romania combined. Source

Cyber_Folks (e-commerce tech, 🇵🇱 PL) acquired PrestaShop (e-commerce platform, 🇫🇷 FR) together with partners Sylius and BitBag (marketplaces). After the deal, the group supports about 35 billion EUR in annual online sales and serves over 700,000 clients worldwide. Source

Rex Concepts (fast food franchising, 🇵🇱 PL), the master franchisee of American Burger King and Popeyes (fast food chains) in Poland, Czechia, and Romania, grew revenues by 66% in 2025 to about 138 million EUR. Company plans to open around 70 new restaurants in 2026, and at least 80 per year after that. Source

Mex Polska (restaurants, 🇵🇱 PL), operator of brands like Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa and The Mexican, secured a 1.2 million EUR credit line from BNP Paribas. Source, Source

Biedronka (grocery retail, owned by Jeronimo Martins, 🇵🇹 PT) is on track to open its 4,000th store in Poland this year. It plans over 120 new openings in 2026, and its parent company has set a 1.2 billion EUR investment budget for the year. Source

Frugo (beverages / FMCG, 🇵🇱 PL, brand owned by FoodCare) announced international expansion including entry into the US market. In Poland, the refreshed Frugo is launching first in Żabka stores in March 2026, accompanied by a 360° campaign including digital, social media, and influencer activity. Source

Dino Polska (grocery retail, 🇵🇱 PL) is building a new 35 million EUR distribution centre in Zawiercie, Silesia, covering 45,000 sqm. It will open in Q1 2027 and support the chain's growing store network across southern Poland. Source

Sushi & Food Factor (ready meals / sushi, 🇵🇱 PL), a Polish producer supplying Biedronka, Żabka, Dino, and Lidl, is being acquired by Wonderfield Group (food, 🇬🇧 GB), a subsidiary of Zensho Holdings (🇯🇵 JP). The deal is still pending regulatory approval in Poland and Germany. Source

XIMI-V (lifestyle retail, 🇨🇳 CN) opened its first store in Poland on 14th of March 2026 at Blue City mall in Warsaw. The 200 sqm store carries nearly 3,000 products inspired by Asian pop culture. In 2026, the brand plans to open at least three stores in Warsaw. Source

GK Specjał (wholesale & retail distribution, 🇵🇱 PL) is increasing investments and preparing more acquisitions after taking over the SPAR Polska chain (retail group). The group plans to strengthen logistics, IT and store operations. Source, Source

Polish energy investment reaching Polish firms, local content policy

Poland is rolling out massive public investment programs in energy and infrastructure, and the government wants Polish companies to capture as much of that spending as possible - a policy known as "local content." In offshore wind, Polish firms currently account for 20-30% of project value, with a target of over 45% in the second phase. PGE alone plans to award Polish companies contracts worth over 35 billion EUR by 2035 across all its investments. But the policy must be carefully defined to stay compliant with EU competition rules, otherwise it risks legal challenges from foreign contractors. Source, Source

Poland cuts fuel taxes ahead of Easter

The US interference in Iran has caused wholesale fuel prices to spike sharply. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced an emergency fuel price package on 26th of March. VAT on fuel will be cut from 23% to 8%, and excise duty reduced to the EU-allowed minimum - a saving of 7 euro cents per liter on petrol. The Energy Minister will set a daily maximum retail price. The government also plans a windfall tax on fuel companies making excess profits. Total expected price drop: ~0.28 EUR per liter. The cost to the budget is estimated at ~4.8 billion PLN (~1.1 billion EUR) for three months. Source

EIB approves ~1.3 billion EUR (5.5 billion PLN) for Poland's energy modernization

The European Investment Bank approved the 11th tranche from the Modernization Fund for Poland - covering five new programs. Of this, ~814 million EUR (3.5 billion PLN) goes to energy efficiency upgrades in hospitals, schools and rural housing blocks. The remaining funds cover district heating storage and home energy storage for prosumers. Poland is the largest single beneficiary of the Modernisation Fund. Total approved to date: ~12.5 billion EUR , of which ~7 billion EUR (30 billion PLN) was secured in just the last two years. Applications open later in 2026. Source, Source

Poland plans 234 billion EUR in energy investments over the next decade

At the PowerConnect Energy Summit in Gdańsk on March 18, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland will invest about 234 billion EUR in energy over the next ten years. The breakdown is roughly 55 billion EUR for renewables and battery storage, 56 billion EUR for grid infrastructure and transmission lines, and 38 billion EUR for nuclear power. Tusk framed energy security as inseparable from national security, pointing to Ukraine's infrastructure destruction and tensions in the Persian Gulf as evidence. The government also plans to co-sign a letter to the European Commission pushing for continued free CO2 allowances for industry, together with Italy, Belgium, Austria, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Greece. Source

Better grid balancing could save Poland 175 million EUR a year

PSE (national grid operator, 🇵🇱 PL) published its first monthly report on commercial balancing quality in the Polish power system. The analysis found that poor energy portfolio management by balancing parties cost the market hundreds of millions of zloty in 2025. PSE estimates that if all parties balanced their portfolios properly, the country could save about 175 million EUR per year. The ten most imbalanced entities account for over 40% of all deviations in the system. PSE called for stronger incentives for active balancing, similar to practices used in other European countries. Source, Source

Poland's largest solar farm to be built in Sidłowo at 722 MW

Virya Energy (renewables, 🇧🇪 BE) partnered with the EBRD to take over a portfolio of projects from Optima Wind, including the Sidłowo solar farm in West Pomerania - at 722 MW, it will be the largest solar project in Poland. Construction starts in the coming weeks. It will be the first solar farm connected directly to PSE's 400 kV high-voltage transmission grid. Virya also launched a new platform, Virya Renewables Poland, aiming to build over 1 GW of installed capacity in Poland by 2028. The EBRD invested 85 million EUR in the platform. The farm alone should power around 400,000 households per year. Source, Source

Poland's first nuclear plant moves closer to construction

Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) (state nuclear developer, 🇵🇱 PL) announced 43 new procurement tenders for the Choczewo nuclear plant site, with the first concrete pour planned for December 2028. General contractor Bechtel (🇺🇸 US) signed a new deal with Polish firm Doraco (hydrotechnical projects, 🇵🇱 PL) for the next two phases of geological and geotechnical surveys at the site. The plant will use Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology and consist of three blocks with a combined capacity of 3,750 MW. The first block is planned to start operating in 2036, and the project will employ up to 10,000 people at peak construction. Source,  Source

Orlen advances second offshore wind farm Baltic East at 900 MW

Orlen Neptun (offshore wind, 🇵🇱 PL), part of Orlen Group, hired a Polish consortium - Projmors ASE Group, Ramboll Polska, and Enprom - to carry out FEED engineering work and obtain construction permits for the Baltic East offshore wind farm at 900 MW. Baltic East won Poland's first offshore wind auction in December 2025. Orlen is also developing a second project, Baltic West. The first farm, Baltic Power at 1.2 GW, is set to start generating power in 2026. Source

Orlen teams up with Bela Group

Orlen (energy & fuel, 🇵🇱 PL) signed a deal with German retail group Bela (by RT Group) to install over 160 fast EV chargers at Famila and Markant supermarkets (by the same group) in Germany by end of 2026. The chargers will offer up to 400 kW. Orlen wants to reach 1,150 charging points in 220 locations across Germany by 2030. Orlen is also building its first German charging hub in Elmshorn near Hamburg with 16 points. Source, Source

PGE acquires RWE's offshore wind project to create 1.3 GW Baltica 9+

PGE (energy, 🇵🇱 PL) finalized the acquisition of RWE's (🇩🇪 DE) Polish offshore wind project FEW Bałtyk II (350 MW) on March 10th. It will be merged with PGE's own Baltica 9 project (975 MW) to create a combined Baltica 9+ farm at 1,325 MW - one of the largest offshore wind projects planned in the Polish Baltic Sea. Both sub-projects already hold different contracts (CfD) from Polish energy auctions. The farm is planned to be ready by 2032. Source

PGE orders two 600 MW gas power plants for 1.4 billion EUR

PGE (state energy group, 🇵🇱 PL) signed contracts with a consortium of Polimex Mostostal (🇵🇱 PL) and Siemens Energy (🇩🇪 DE) to build two open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) power plants in Rybnik and Gryfino, each with around 600 MW capacity. The total contract value, including 12-year service agreements, is about 1.4 billion EUR. Construction works start in May 2027 and both plants are expected to be operational by January and March 2030. The plants will emit about 50% less carbon emission than old coal units of similar size, and will help balance the grid as Poland rapidly expands solar and wind capacity. Source, Source

Enea plans 1.4 GW of battery storage in 30 months for 465 million EUR

Enea (energy group, 🇵🇱 PL) announced a programme to build 1,386 MW of battery energy storage and 300 MW of solar capacity within 30 months, for a total investment of about 465 million EUR. The largest batteries - 232 MW at Kozienice and 200 MW at Połaniec - will be built next to existing power plants. Most batteries will be connected to the grid in 2027 and early 2028. Enea said it also does not rule out acquiring additional storage projects on top of this pipeline. Source, Source, Source

Poland to speed up wind farm permits

Deputy Climate Minister Urszula Zielińska announced on 25th of March that administrative procedures for offshore wind farms will be capped at 2 years, and onshore at 1 year. This is required by the EU's RED III renewable energy directive. A draft law is moving from the Standing Committee to the Council of Ministers. PSE, the grid operator, warned that all new energy investments ultimately land in consumer bills for 40 years - so oversizing must be avoided. The government also wants to attract large industrial energy consumers to northern Poland, where most wind farms and the planned nuclear plant will be located. Source

Eurowind starts planning 80 MW wind farm near Tuchola

Eurowind Energy (wind energy, 🇩🇰 DK) started planning a new 80 MW wind farm in the Tuchola area of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region. The park will consist of 13 turbines and power around 52,000 households per year. The project is still at the planning and community consultation stage. Local authorities will earn about 0.65 million EUR per year in property taxes once the farm is operational. Source

Art Wind got new investor

Enterprise Investors (private equity, 🇵🇱 PL) acquired a 65% stake in Art Wind (wind turbine installation & servicing, 🇵🇱 PL), which installs and maintains wind turbines across Europe, with most of its revenue coming from Germany. Art Wind had about 27 million EUR in revenues in 2025. This is Enterprise Investors' third investment in the renewables sector. The deal price was not disclosed. Source

Energa Operator with 109 million grant for smart grid investments

Energa Operator (electricity distribution, 🇵🇱 PL) received ~109 million EUR grant from the National Recovery Plan. The money will support the development of smart grid infrastructure. The project includes building and modernising 250 km of power lines and replacing 41 transformers. It will also add a new main supply point and upgrade nine others. The investment focuses on rural areas and aims to increase grid connection capacity by 260 MW. The company says the project will improve reliability and support new renewable energy sources. Work is already underway across all six regional branches. Source

Poland has a record supply of ready-to-move developer flats 

At the end of 2025, nearly one in three flats offered by developers in Poland had already been completed and approved for occupancy - the highest share in at least six years. Experts say this is the result of developers building a lot in 2024 while demand stayed weak, because the government's subsidised mortgage programme "Bezpieczny Kredyt 2%" ended in 2024 and no replacement was launched. Outside Warsaw, completed flats are often cheaper than unfinished ones - in Poznań, the gap is around 9% per square metre - and developers of finished projects are more open to price negotiations. Analysts say demand is slowly recovering as interest rates fall. Source, Source

Budimex signs 608 million EUR rail contract for Podłęże-Piekiełko line

A consortium led by Budimex (construction, 🇵🇱 PL, strategic shareholder Ferrovial 🇪🇸 ES), together with Budimex Kolejnictwo and Ferrovial Construction (🇪🇸 ES), signed a 608 million EUR contract with PKP PLK (rail infrastructure, 🇵🇱 PL) for a new 20-km railway line from Podłęże to Gdów in Małopolska, plus a connecting link. This is part of the Podłęże-Piekiełko project, currently the largest railway investment in southern Poland, which will eventually cut travel time between Kraków and Zakopane by about 90 minutes. Works must be completed within 38 months from contract signing. Source

Budimex loses second Rail Baltica tender bid. PKP PLK must choose winner for third time

Poland's public procurement court KIO ordered PKP PLK to invalidate its selection of a Budimex-led consortium for the 1.17 billion EUR Rail Baltica tender covering the 96-km Białystok-Ełk section. This is the second time a chosen winner has been disqualified - first Mirbud/Torpol were removed, then Budimex/PORR. PKP PLK must now re-evaluate the remaining offers and pick a winner for the third time. The next-closest bidder is a consortium of Track Tec Construction, Unibep, Intop, and Pomorskie Przedsiębiorstwo Mechaniczno-Torowe, which offered about 1.22 billion EUR. Budimex said it will review the ruling and may pursue legal action. There is also a separate, smaller tender for the Warsaw southern freight bypass (Czachówek Wschodni-Pilawa, 255 million EUR) where the Budimex bid was also invalidated and sent for re-evaluation. Source

Secondary market flat prices rise, but buyers can still negotiate

Poland's secondary housing market entered Q1 2026 in good shape - buyer interest is growing and asking prices look high, but much of that rise is illusory and driven by negotiation tactics. The gap between asking and final transaction prices can reach 15-20%, depending on the flat's condition and whether the buyer pays cash. Analysts say small flats are the hardest to negotiate down, while larger family-sized units offer the most room for a discount. Experts expect prices to stay stable in H1 2026 and rise modestly in H2, driven by falling interest rates and improving mortgage access. Source

Fixed mortgage rates jump sharply in Poland amid oil crisis and inflation fears

Fixed-rate mortgage rates in Poland rose by about 0.4 percentage points in just two weeks. It is the fastest rise in a long time, despite the central bank cutting interest rates in the same period. The cause is the war in the Middle East, a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, rising oil prices, and a spike in inflation expectations. Rising government bond yields and interest rate derivative pricing now suggest financial markets expect monetary tightening ahead, rather than further cuts. Banks are raising the fixed-rate premium over variable-rate mortgages, meaning borrowers who want payment certainty must now pay more for it. Source, Source

Short-term rental rules leave Polish operators in the dark

Poland's new short-term rental registration law takes effect May 20, 2026, requiring all properties rented by the night to register nationally - in line with EU regulation. A draft law also limits rentals in apartment buildings to six units per building. Operators face fines of up to 11,700 EUR per property but must file compliance declarations before the technical standards they need to meet are even published. About 60% of all listings currently operate in a grey zone. Source, Source, Source

Resi4Rent / Vantage Development (real estate, 🇵🇱 Poland / 🇩🇪 Germany)

Resi4Rent sold more than 5,300 rental apartments to Germany’s Vantage Development for 2.4 billion PLN (~560 million EUR). The portfolio includes 18 projects in major Polish cities. The deal is one of the largest transactions in Poland’s private rental sector. Vantage plans to expand its long‑term rental strategy, while Resi4Rent will focus on new developments. Source

Swedish King visits Poland: SAFE program

King Carl XVI Gustaf visited Poland on 10-12 of March 2026 - the first Swedish royal visit since 2011. Around 60 Swedish companies and officials joined talks on defense and civil protection. Poland and Sweden signed a cooperation agreement on civil defense. A Swedish submarine docked in Gdynia during the visit. The visit came as Poland was allocated ~44 billion EUR - the largest share - of the EU's 150 billion EUR SAFE defense loan fund. President Nawrocki vetoed the implementing law, blocking the first ~6.5 billion EUR payment. Source

Drone components with NATO production origin

FlyFocus (drones, UAV, 🇵🇱 PL) raised 4.5 million EUR to build a new factory in Poland and develop two new drone platforms, with production set to start in late 2026. The company only uses NATO-approved suppliers, with no Chinese components. Source

Anti-drone system production in Gdynia

APS (anti-drone systems, 🇵🇱 PL) and sister company Eycore (radar/space tech, 🇵🇱 PL) are investing a combined 35 million EUR in northern Poland (APS building a new production hall in Gdynia) and Eycore setting up a clean-room facility, with its first radar satellite set to launch via SpaceX in May 2026. Source, Source

GE Aerospace investing in Poland

GE Aerospace (jet engines, 🇺🇸 US) is investing 11.6 million EUR in Poland as part of a wider 78 million European push, funding new machinery and infrastructure to produce components for aircraft and military helicopter engines. Source

Rheinmetall commits to Poland: factory, production, and long-term SAFE orders

Rheinmetall (defence & vehicles, 🇩🇪 DE) confirmed its commitment to building production capacity in Poland, tied to the EU's SAFE rearmament funding programme. The company already signed an MoU with PGZ (Polish defence group, 🇵🇱 PL) in October 2025 to establish a joint European Support Vehicle Centre, producing engineering vehicles and bridge-layers at WZM and H. Cegielski plants in Poland under Rheinmetall licences. Separately, RENK Group (drivetrain tech, 🇩🇪 DE), a key Rheinmetall supplier, announced it plans to invest 500 million EUR in Poland over the next four to five years, opening service and production facilities in Poland for tank gearboxes and engines to support customers across Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltics. RENK aims to grow annual transmission output from around 300 to 800 units by end of 2026 Source, Source. Source, Source

Rosomak gets 13 million EUR to build Legwan production line and robotise factory

Rosomak (armoured vehicles, part of PGZ, 🇵🇱 PL), Poland's only producer of wheeled armoured personnel carriers, received 13 million EUR in state support from the Katowice Special Economic Zone to expand its plant in Siemianowice Śląskie. The investment, running until March 2028, covers a new Legwan 4x4 light armoured vehicle assembly line, robotisation of welding, digitalisation of painting and production processes, and a modernised central warehouse. The factory already has a contract for over 1,200 Legwan vehicles for the Polish army. Source

MBF Group signs border security MoU

MBF Group (security systems, 🇵🇱 PL) signed a memorandum of understanding in the area of border protection and security technology, targeting the growing EU border surveillance market. Source

🇸🇪 Saab cooperates with PGZ and WB

Saab (defence, 🇸🇪 SE) signed cooperation agreements with PGZ and WB Group (defense groups, 🇵🇱 PL), covering technology transfer and joint production of Saab systems in Poland.  “By sharing expertise and scaling up innovation, we can develop advanced solutions that support security in Europe and the Baltic Sea region,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab. Source, Source

Swedish air defense company opens office in Warsaw

Nordic Air Defence (anti-drone systems, 🇸🇪 SE) announced it is entering the Polish market by setting up a new subsidiary called Nordic Air Defence Poland. The company plans to open a local office, build a sales team, hire engineers and technical staff, and is considering opening an assembly facility in Poland. The company signed letters of intent with two Polish partners - WB Group and Tantalit (both defence tech, 🇵🇱 PL), to jointly develop anti-drone technology. A key focus is the interceptor system being developed by WB Group, with both sides considering local production or assembly of components in Poland. Source, Source

Deals signed with Estonia and Czech Republic

Estonia and Poland signed an agreement to jointly develop land-based unmanned ground vehicle systems. The project brings together defence technology companies and research institutions from both countries, with a focus on autonomous logistics and reconnaissance platforms. 

Poland and the Czech Republic signed a strategic defence cooperation agreement covering joint procurement, technology sharing, and industrial collaboration. The deal could be worth hundreds of millions of euros over the coming years, depending on which programmes are activated. Source, Source, Source

Czechoslovak Group acquires Polish military electronics maker

Czechoslovak Group (defence & industrial, 🇨🇿 CZ) signed a preliminary agreement to acquire Domar MS, a Warsaw-based manufacturer of cable harnesses and electrical connectors used in military vehicles, radar systems, and aerospace applications. It is CSG's first acquisition in Poland. The current workforce of 220 is to be retained, with headcount planned to grow to 300 by year-end. The deal value was not disclosed. UOKiK approval is pending. Source, Source

Nitro-Chem doubles TNT capacity with ~350 million EUR investment

Nitro-Chem (explosives & munitions, part of PGZ, 🇵🇱 PL) received the largest tax relief grant under the Polska Strefa Inwestycji programme - ~13.7 million EUR - awarded at the Bydgoszcz Industrial and Technology Park. The company is also building a second TNT production line, with total investment estimated at ~233-350 million EUR, which will double its output capacity to up to 20,000 tonnes per year. Nitro-Chem already signed a record export contract with the US worth ~280 mln EUR for 18,000 tonnes of TNT delivered in 2027-2029.Source Source Source

Possible strike at Poznań arms factory

Workers at the H. Cegielski-Poznań (defence manufacturing, 🇵🇱 PL) plant are threatening a strike over unpaid wages and deteriorating working conditions. The factory, which is part of PGZ and produces military vehicles and engines, employs around 1,000 people. Management and unions are in talks, but no agreement has been reached yet. Source

EIB Group & Santander Consumer Bank support green initiatives

The EIB Group & Santander Consumer Bank (finance, 🇪🇺 EU / 🇵🇱 Poland) will provide 860 million PLN (~200 million EUR) to support green investments in Poland. The programme will finance electric cars, solar panels and energy‑efficiency upgrades for households and small businesses. The agreement includes a risk‑sharing mechanism that helps banks offer better loan conditions. Source

CAMM-ER production in Zielonka 

Poland signed an agreement to build a new factory in Zielonka that will produce CAMM‑ER missile systems. The Ministry of Defence says the plant will have strategic importance for national security. Deputy Minister Cezary Tomczyk called the project a major step in strengthening Poland’s defence capabilities. The factory will support domestic production of advanced air‑defence weapons and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Construction is part of a wider plan to expand Poland’s missile and ammunition manufacturing capacity. Source

Read here: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/70911869/finnish-business-culture-in-poland-2026

Poland's Ambassador to Finland talks about bilateral ties and economic outlook

Poland's economy has grown into a nearly 930 billion EUR powerhouse, with 3.5% growth projected for 2026. Ambassador Tomasz Chłoń highlights deepening Polish-Finnish cooperation across defense, energy transition, nuclear power, and quantum technologies - with trade turnover approaching 7 billion EUR. Finnish companies like Fortum (energy)  and ICEYE (defense, satellites) are already active in Poland. The Ambassador sees the Baltic Sea region as Europe's next strategic hub, with rail, hydrogen corridors, and joint R&D bringing both countries closer together. Source

Orlen signs hydrogen supply deals with three Finnish companies

Orlen (energy & fuel, 🇵🇱 PL) signed cooperation agreements with three Finnish companies earlier, on 27th of Jan, 2026, to secure future supplies of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives for its refineries and chemical plants in Poland. The three partners are now known: ABO Energy Suomi (🇩🇪 DE/🇫🇮 FI), developing two large wind and hydrogen projects in Oulu and Nivala with a combined capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year by 2035; Nordic Ren-Gas (🇫🇮 FI), building integrated e-methane plants using renewable hydrogen and biogenic CO2; and VolagHy Kuopio SPV (🇫🇮 FI), developing a synthetic aviation fuel (eSAF) plant in Kuopio with capacity of around 50,000 tonnes per year from 2031. It’s the project that received a 150 million EUR tax grant from the Finnish government.

The partners will also work together to define logistics for transporting hydrogen and its derivatives from Finland to Orlen's facilities in Poland. Orlen plans to store the fuel in Polish salt caverns using its existing underground gas storage network. This follows an earlier agreement signed in 2025 with P2X Solutions (🇫🇮 FI), which operates Finland's first industrial-scale renewable hydrogen and e-methane facility in Harjavalta and is targeting 1 GW of production capacity within the next decade. Source, Source.

Poland-Finland seminar shows Poland's rising role in EU

The Finland-Poland Societies Union held a seminar on 24th of March in Helsinki, at the European Commission Representation. Speakers talked about Poland's growing influence in EU security and economic policy debates. Polish-Finnish relations were described as closer than ever, with growing academic, cultural and political ties. A new Finnish-language book on the history of Polish-Finnish cooperation was also presented at the event. Source 

KSeF Phase II rollout

Poland will launch the second stage of the National e‑Invoicing System (KSeF) on 1 April 2026. More companies will be required to issue invoices only through the system, except very small taxpayers. The Ministry of Finance says no penalties will apply in 2026 for mistakes made during adaptation. Over 87 million invoices have already been processed, and new 

improvements will simplify reporting scam invoices and using the taxpayer application. Authorities continue training and support to help businesses adjust. Source

Poland's "local content" policy

Poland is introducing a new reporting obligation requiring main contractors and first- and second-tier subcontractors on major public investments to report their planned and contracted partners to GUS. The energy sector enters a pilot phase in June 2026; transport and infrastructure follows in January 2027. Polish construction firms have strong execution capacity but still depend on foreign technology - especially in energy, storage, and nuclear areas. The policy aims to ensure Poland's planned investment wave benefits local firms, not just foreign contractors Source, Source

Poland's deposit return system: 300 million bottles collected in February

Minister of Climate Paulina Hennig-Kloska reported that around 300 million bottles and cans were returned under Poland's deposit system in February 2026, launched in October 2025. Problems remain - particularly with logistics and store signage, as many shops lack clear return point visibility despite a legal obligation to accept returns. By Q1 2026, around 60% of bottles that entered sales had been returned - exceeding results previously achieved through yellow recycling bins. EU targets require 77% collection by 2025-2028, rising to 90% from 2029. Source

Foreigners open record numbers of companies in Poland

In 2025, foreigners registered 10,500 new companies in Poland - up 5% year-on-year and the third-highest total ever. Ukrainians led with 3,200 new firms, followed by Belarusians (1,370) and Chinese (610). The most popular sectors were restaurants and catering (694 firms), road transport (484), and construction (480). Experts note that a Polish company registration also grants Schengen visa rights - a key motive for many applicants from Ukraine and Belarus. Source

Poland's agriculture has a ~33 billion EUR (140 billion PLN) investment gap

The head of the Polish Bank Association (ZBP), Tadeusz Białek, said at the European Agribusiness Finance Forum that Polish agriculture is heavily underinvested. The gap across agricultural sub-sectors is estimated at ~33 billion EUR (140 billion PLN). Without closing it, the sector cannot grow. Key risks include rising production costs, bureaucracy, low rural incomes, and an "alarming" demographic situation. Structural reforms are needed to open the sector to outside investment. Poland may receive up to ~48 billion EUR (200 billion PLN) under the next EU Common Agricultural Policy for 2028-2034. Source

Poland's NFZ healthcare fund faces ~5.4 billion EUR gap in 2026

From 1st of July 2026, minimum wages for medical workers will rise 8.82% in line with the statutory indexation formula. A specialist doctor's minimum rises to ~3,010 EUR per month. The Ministry of Health tried for months to delay the increase to January 2027 - which would have saved ~1.4 billion EUR (6 billion PLN) - but tripartite talks broke down without agreement. NFZ must now cover the full cost, estimated at ~800 million EUR (3.5 billion PLN) for H2 2026. The fund's total structural gap for 2026 is estimated at ~5.4 billion EUR (23 billion PLN). Analysts warn this may force limits on specialist outpatient referrals. Source

Toxic chemicals in Shein clothes

Tests show that toxic chemicals in Shein (fast fashion e-commerce, 🇨🇳 CN) clothes are not individual mistakes but a pattern. Multiple independent studies found that a large share of tested Shein products exceeded EU safety limits. Out of 21 items tested by German lab Öko-Test, 8 contained toxic substances such as lead, cadmium, antimony, phthalates, and naphthalenes above permitted levels. A later Greenpeace Germany report found that 18 out of 56 garments (32%) exceeded EU REACH chemical limits - including children's clothing - with phthalates and PFAS among the substances detected. In one case, average phthalate levels in snow boots reached 685 times the legal limit. Source, Source

Ukrainian defense startup valued at over 1 billion EUR

Uforce is a Ukrainian defense‑tech startup. In a new funding round, the company reached a value of more than 920 million EUR. It also received about 46 million EUR from Shield Capital and Lakestar. Uforce brings together nine Ukrainian defence companies. It builds autonomous systems for air, land, and sea. Its best‑known product is the Magura sea drone, used in the Black Sea. The CEO is Oleg Rogynskyi, a Ukrainian entrepreneur from Silicon Valley. He helps connect Ukraine with American investors. Source

Sine Engineering lands first US-Ukraine reconstruction fund investment

Sine Engineering (drone navigation tech, 🇺🇦 UA) became the first company to receive investment from the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF), beating out over 200 applicants. The Lviv-based startup, founded days after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, builds GPS-independent navigation systems and communication modules for drones operating under active electronic warfare conditions. Its technology is integrated into systems used by over 150 Ukrainian drone manufacturers. The company has grown from 5 volunteers to a 200-person team and has opened a European office in Finland. Source, Source

Grammarly expands to 17 new languages including Ukrainian

Grammarly (AI writing assistant, 🇺🇦 UA) launched grammar and spelling support for 17 new languages in beta, expanding its total to over 20 supported languages. The update includes Ukrainian, Turkish, Hindi, Korean, and Dutch, with fluency, clarity, and tone recommendations to follow. The Kyiv-founded company also launched an AI-powered Expert Review feature earlier in the month - which it then discontinued on March 11 after a federal class-action lawsuit was filed over the use of AI clones of real authors, including living and deceased writers, without their consent. Source

Wild Hornets and SkyFall eye first Gulf export contracts amid Middle East conflict

Wild Hornets and SkyFall (interceptor drone manufacturers, 🇺🇦 UA) confirmed receiving inquiries from Middle Eastern countries seeking Ukrainian-made interceptor drones, following Zelenskyy's Gulf tour where Ukraine signed framework defence cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The companies are awaiting official export clearance from Kyiv before entering negotiations. Ukrainian interceptor drones, priced around 2 thousand EUR per unit and combat-tested against Iranian Shaheds, are seen as a cost-effective alternative to Patriot PAC-3 interceptors costing millions per round. Source

Polish movie character in Savonlinna

A new international film called The Seal Mother was filmed in Savonlinna, Finland. The story follows a Polish woman who travels to Finland to help protect the endangered Saimaa ringed seal. The movie shows themes like motherhood, nature, and responsibility. Local actors appear in the film, including Elias Salonen. Savonlinna supported the project with 15,000 EUR and hopes the film will bring more visitors. The movie was first planned in Norway, but the team chose Finland instead. Source, Source

Polish winner at 2026 Oscars

The Polish Film Institute reported that a Polish filmmaker was among the winners at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026. The award recognized work that brought strong international attention. The 98th Oscars took place on 15 March 2026 in Los Angeles. One of the winners was a Polish artist, Maciek Szczerbowski. He worked on the short animated film The Girl Who Cried Pearls, which won the award for Best Animated Short Film. He accepted the prize together with Chris Lavis. Source

Past events

MARCH

EXPO SURFACE, Kielce 24 of March 2026

Expo‑Surface in Kielce on 24th of March 2026 focused on new technologies for industrial surface treatment and corrosion protection. Anna Golinczak from Spondeo met with Finnish FSP (FSP For Surface Protection is one of the leading companies in the European industrial surface treatment industry, 🇫🇮 FI) at the venue. FSP presented its solutions to partners and visitors, highlighting new applications for protective coatings in heavy industry.

Other noteworthy events from March:

WARSAW SECURITY & DEFENCE EXPO, EUROPEAN HORECA WEEK,

TECHNOLOGY AND CLEANING FAIR, PROCUREMENT & LOGISTICS FAIR FOR HORECA, INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF FABRICS AND KNITTED FABRICS, VENDING& SELF‑SERVICE TECHNOLOGY FAIR 

WOOD AND FURNITURE TECHNOLOGY FAIR, GRINDING TECHNOLOGY FAIR, MODULAR & PREFABRICATED CONSTRUCTION FAIR, WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY FAIR 

Upcoming events

APRIL

PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY FAIR, PUBLIC TRANSPORT FAIR, TRANSPORT, FORWARDING & LOGISTICS FAIR, INDUSTRIAL PNEUMATIC TECHNOLOGY FAIR, HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY FAIR, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FAIR, FAIR OF DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT

MAY

AESTHETIC MEDICINE & WELLNESS FAIR, PHARMACEUTICAL FAIR, SENIOR LIVING & CARE FAIR, LABORATORY EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY FAIR, SPA & WELLNESS TECHNOLOGY FAIR, INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS FAIR, LASER & OPTICAL TECHNOLOGIES FAIR, COIL & TRANSFORMER FAIR, PET & VETERINARY FAIR, CONSUMER ELECTRONICS FAIR, ENERGY STORAGE & POWER SOLUTIONS FAIR, WORKSHOP TECHNOLOGY FAIR, PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE FAIR, FURNITURE COMPONENTS & TECHNOLOGY FAIR, FURNITURE FAIR, DOOR TECHNOLOGY FAIR, FLOORING & SURFACE MATERIALS FAIR, WINDOW TECHNOLOGY FAIR, GLASS TECHNOLOGIES FAIR, CERAMIC TILES & BATHROOMS FAIR