Economic ties between Poland and the United Kingdom are not merely resilient in the post-Brexit era; they are thriving. Freshly released trade data for 2025 reveals that bilateral trade in goods between the two countries reached an impressive £23.9 billion, underlining what many observers describe as one of the most dynamic partnerships in Europe.
As Dr Simon Selby, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in South West England, highlighted in a recent post, “Smart investors & SW UK businesses, please note: The value of bilateral trade in goods between Poland and the UK totalled £23.9 billion.”
The figures point to a relationship that is both commercially robust and strategically significant.
According to Michał Dembiński, who drew attention to the newly published UK trade data, “UK exports of goods to Poland in 2025 soared by 16.5% year on year, hitting another record high: £9.4 billion.”
This sharp rise signals strong demand in Poland for British products, particularly in sectors shaped by current geopolitical realities. Dembiński noted that “a significant chunk of the UK’s export sales to Poland, resulting in that surge, was defence equipment and oil and gas – both the direct result of Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”
At the same time, UK imports of goods from Poland also reached a record level. Although growth was more modest, rising by 1.0%, the total value climbed to £14.5 billion.
Taken together, these flows demonstrate a mature, balanced trading relationship, characterised by strong two-way exchange and deep supply chain integration.
The figures are not simply an enthusiastic statistic; it reflects strategic alignment between two close European partners.
Poland has become one of the fastest-growing major economies in the European Union, with a highly skilled workforce and strong industrial base. The UK, meanwhile, continues to be a global leader in advanced manufacturing, energy services, defence technologies and financial services. The complementarity between the two economies is increasingly evident.
The defence and energy dimensions of trade, in particular, reflect a broader political convergence. Poland has emerged as a frontline state in supporting Ukraine and strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. The UK has been one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters. Economic cooperation in defence equipment and energy security reinforces this shared strategic outlook.
The positive bilateral data comes against a more challenging backdrop for the UK’s overall trade in goods. Dembiński observed that, “Looking at the big picture for the UK in terms of global trade in goods, the picture post-Brexit is dire.”
He noted that the UK’s overall trade deficit in goods, which stood at £118 billion in 2020, has since more than doubled to £250 billion following the departure from the European single market and Customs Union.
However, the UK’s strong performance in services trade has helped offset some of that imbalance. Services exports rose by 8.7% year on year to £551 billion, while services imports increased by 7.2% to £345 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of £206 billion.
Within this broader landscape, the strength of UK–Poland goods trade stands out as a particularly bright spot.
For businesses in both countries, including firms in South West England, to whom Dr Selby directly appealed, the message is clear: Poland represents a vibrant, expanding market, while the UK remains a key commercial gateway with global reach.
The record-breaking figures suggest not only resilience but forward momentum. Supply chains are adapting, companies are investing, and new sectors, particularly in defence, energy transition, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing, are deepening bilateral ties.
The £23.9 billion milestone demonstrates that Brexit has not diminished the importance of the Poland–UK economic relationship. If anything, it has underscored the value of targeted, strategic partnerships between like-minded nations.
Source: LinkedIn
Graphic: British Poles
Tomasz Modrzejewski
