Export figures for the first five months of 2002 show that all is not yet lost

The lion's shares of this year's exports have been products from the automotive, furniture and shipyard sectors. One of the most important goods sold abroad is also coal. Sales of new cars are deteriorating by the month, but this does not necessarily herald an impending crisis in the whole automotive industry. After the first five months of 2002, Poland has sent goods worth $1.8 billion abroad from this sector - mostly cars, engines and car accessories. Engines from the Isuzu plant in Tychy accounted for a huge proportion of sales and more importantly the company is constantly increasing exports. Total sales of car accessories amounted to $500 million over the first five months of 2002 and were 20% higher than last year. However, car exports have dropped by 24% and amounted to only $516 million in the year to May. Furniture sales abroad amounted to almost $595 million - 11% up on last year. There was a substantial decrease in the value of ship and ferry exports, which are 20% down on last year's figures. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 7) M.M.