Market research

Ethylene market in Poland

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, Poland's ethylene market volume gradually increased from 468 K t to 487 K t. This growth was supported by investments in new production infrastructure and modernization of existing plants, which expanded domestic supply. In 2020, while the COVID-19 pandemic caused global disruptions in raw material supply chains, PKN Orlen continued its investments in petrochemical development, including plans to expand ethylene production, helping to sustain output levels.

In 2021, the market sharply contracted to 349 K t, down 28% from the previous year. This steep decline was directly driven by planned modernization works and shutdowns of production units at PKN Orlen, which significantly reduced operational capacity and temporary output.

By 2022, volume recovered to 459 K t as modernization projects were completed and capacity returned online. However, the market volume fell again to 343 K t by 2024, influenced by persistent geopolitical tensions that limited the availability of petrochemical feedstocks and constrained production. Throughout the period, EU environmental regulations on greenhouse gas emissions continued to affect production costs and investment decisions.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2022, 2024
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2022, 2024
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2022, 2024
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2022, 2024
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Poland
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2022, 2024, K t
  2. 5.1.2. In value, 2018-2022, 2024, M $ US
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, K t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Poland in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Poland by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Poland in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Poland by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Poland, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Poland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Poland in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Poland by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Poland in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Poland by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Poland, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Poland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Poland in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Poland by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Poland in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Poland by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Poland, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Poland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Poland in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Poland by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Poland in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Poland by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Poland, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Poland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production ethylene in Poland

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Poland's ethylene production declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 362.8 million US dollars, representing a 17.4% reduction compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production decreased by 20.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 7.5%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 493.6 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 7.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Poland in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.8%	(11.0%)	(17.4%)	(7.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Poland's ethylene production volume increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, 486.9 thousand tonnes of ethylene were produced, constituting a modest year-over-year increase of 2.6%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 467.8 thousand tonnes, which also experienced the largest decline of 2.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Poland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.9%)	1.5%	2.6%	0.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports ethylene from Poland

Exports in kind, kg

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Export volumes reached their minimum in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a top-to-bottom ratio of 1,623 times. In 2020, Poland exported 9,740 kilograms of ethylene, representing a dramatic 162,233.3% increase compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Poland in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	162 233.3%	311.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the market structure was highly concentrated, with Germany alone responsible for 99.1% of total exports in kind.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Poland in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this period. A 20-fold variation occurred between the minimum in 2019 and the maximum in 2020. In 2020, Poland's ethylene export value reached 16,290 US dollars, marking a sharp gain of 1,853.2% year-over-year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Poland in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	1 853.2%	76.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Germany and Czechia were the principal destinations for exports in value terms, with their combined share reaching 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Poland in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports ethylene to Poland

Imports in kind, kg

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Imports varied by 2.3 times, from a low in 2017 to a high in 2020. In 2020, ethylene deliveries to Poland totaled 15,268 kilograms, constituting a sharp improvement of 97.9% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 9.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Poland in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	25.2%	(9.0%)	97.9%	31.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (43.4% of imports in kind), Czechia (31.4%), and Belgium (24.9%) were the main sources in the geographical breakdown of ethylene imports to Poland, with a combined share of 99.7% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Poland in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

After a two-year rise, ethylene shipments to Poland from abroad declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 51,679 US dollars, marking a drop of 30.4% versus the previous year. Over the period 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 21.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.8%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 74,287 US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 43.5% in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Poland in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	43.5%	22.0%	(30.4%)	6.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (with 50.2% of total flows) and Belgium (37.4%) together formed 87.7% of total imports in value terms, while other partners accounted for the remaining volume.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Poland in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io