Sborník 2009 díl 2. - Fakulta informatiky a managementu - Univerzita ...

Iwona Szczepaniak EVALUATION OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF POLISH FOOD PRODUCERS
AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
producers from the „old” Union (EU-15) and lower, as compared to producers from the
new Member States (EU-12).In the 2004-2007 period, the process of levelling Polish
prices with average EU prices was particularly visible in the milk market. As regards
the market in pork and fowl, it is impossible to speak about unambiguous tendency in
the relationship between the prices in Poland and in the EU (significant price fluctuation).
The ratios of the prices of eggs intended for human consumption were stable
and amounted to 2% to the advantage of Polish producers. On the other hand, the differences
in the prices of piglets increased.
TAB 3. Price comparison of the basic agricultural products in Poland and in the
Eu-25/27 (UE-25/27 = 100)
Specification
07-12.
2004
2005 2006 2007
01-09.
2008
Wheat intended for consumption
93,5 87,3 97,8 98,8 104,6
Feed barley 90,1 87,0 89,2 94,9 103,7
Feed maize 98,4 88,9 94,8 96,6 103,5
Pork 102,1 95,6 88,9 95,0 103,5
Piglets . 82,0 64,4 61,0 73,2
Beef 70,1 75,5 75,2 77,8 80,6
Milk 87,0 90,6 94,3 93,5 89,4
Fowl 70,9 77,2 67,9 75,9 79,6
Eggs intended for consumption
98,0 96,1 97,8 98,3 107,9
Source: Own study on the basis of the data provided by MARD (see also www.minrol.pl).
The situation changed in 2008. The increase of food prices in Poland and in the world
and depreciation of Polish currency, zloty (PLN), starting from the second half of 2008,
caused that in the period from January to September 2008 the differences in the prices
of basic agricultural products in Poland and in the UE, at the average, decreased. We
even lost our to-date price superiority, as regards cereals, pork and eggs intended for
consumption. Only the prices of Polish beef, fowl, piglets and milk remained competitive.
It is difficult to assess now, to what degree the loss of our price competitiveness on
basic agricultural products market is a persistent phenomenon. However, it is obvious
that the process of gradual levelling of food prices between Poland and the EU will
cause that Polish producers will be forced to actively look for factors other than prices,
which will allow them to maintain competitive position in the ECM, in spite of still attractive
price offers.
Discussion
Almost five years of Poland’s presence in the European Community proved that Polish
food producers were well-prepared to the EU membership and that they have been functioning
very well on this difficult market. As a result, the position of our foods on the
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