Germany remains chief trade partner; with 13% increase possible this year

Despite the negative trade balance between Poland and Germany, trade between the two countries should increase by 13% this year. Germany is Poland's largest trade partner in the European Union (EU), and Polish-German transactions in 1999 amounting to $21.5 billion made Poland Germany's largest partner among Central European countries. Poland exports and imports 35% and 24%, respectively. In the first seven months of this year, Polish exports increased by 10%, but imports rose only 2.8% compared to the corresponding period in 1999. Machines, mechanical devices, textiles, furniture, and cars were the major goods exported by Poland to Germany. Poland imported cars, machines, mechanical devices, chemical products, and plastics. According to Polish Foreign Investment Agency (PAIZ), the total value of German investment for the first half of this year amounted to $6.4 billion. (Prawo i Gospodarka, pp. 1,3)