Export growth jumps, but imports growing faster

Growth of exports to western European countries was the slowest with 10.7%, while exports of Polish enterprises to central and eastern European countries (Albania, Belarus, Croatia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine) increased by a hefty 42.3% compared to the previous year. "These countries are developing faster than "old" Europe," said Piotr Bielski, an economist with BZ WBK. "Therefore their demand is higher." The trade deficit in January amounted to almost EUR 900 million since imports grew slightly faster than exports and hitting EUR 8.25 billion. The largest growth of Polish imports proved to be from China and Hungary. (Parkiet, p. 12) E.B.