Poland’s imports of RMG and India’s position

About Poland

Poland’s imports

Of the total imports of US $163064.85 million in 2007, Germany’s share was about 29 per cent or in value terms it was US $ 47041.68 million. Other significant countries in Poland’s imports are Russia (8.83 per cent), Italy (6.46 per cent), Netherlands (5.63 per cent), France (5.09 per cent) and China (4.25 per cent). Top six supplier countries account for about 60 per cent of the total imports of Poland. Poland’s imports from India were to the tune of US $ 537.84 million, much lower than top five countries, and significantly lower than China. Pakistan and Bangladesh’s share has been below 0.1 per cent while Indonesia and Vietnam have a share of 0.18 and 0.15 per cent respectively.

In terms of change over the last year, China recorded the largest increase in its imports to Poland, i.e. 54 per cent increase in 2007 over 2006 level; followed by India (about 52 per cent increase) and Kazakhstan (39 per cent increase).

Poland’s imports from various countries (in mn. of US $) and share of these countries in total Imports of Poland

2005 to 2007

Poland’s exports

Of the total exports of Poland to the tune of US $ 139093 million in 2007, Germany’s share is the largest i.e., about 26 per cent; followed by Italy and France. Exports to India in 2007 were US$ 163.51 million, compared to US $ 996.52 million worth exports to China. India’s share in Poland’s total exports is much less than its share in total imports, and so is its ranking. India being 33rd most significant supplier of goods to Poland and 50th most significant destination for Polish goods. It can also be seen from the table below that India has in fact experienced a fall in total exports of goods from Poland, both in value terms and share terms.

Poland’s exports to various countries (in mn. of US $) and share of these countries in Poland’s exports

2005 to 2007

RMG imports of Poland

Germany and China are the two leading countries from where RMG are imported into Poland each accounting for more that 23 per cent of the total RMG imports of Poland in 2007.  In value terms, Poland’s imports from Germany and China were US$ 464.21 million and US$ 459.28 million respectively. Share of top five supplier countries is almost 65 per cent of the total RMG imports of Poland during the same period. RMG imports from India were US$ 42 million in the year 2007, increasing from US$ 23 million in 2005 and US$40 million in 2006. Share of India has increased from 2.03 per cent in 2005 to 2.14 per cent in 2007, though there has been a fall in its share, when compared to the value of 2.79 per cent in 2006. Close to India’s value of imports to Poland is Netherlands with imports worth US$38 million and share of 1.94 per cent in RMG imports of Poland. Bangladesh’s share is 1.21 per cent and value is US$ 23.7 million.

Leading suppliers of RMG to Poland, value of imports and their share in total imports of Poland,

2005 to 2007

Poland’s RMG imports at 4 digit HS code level

Poland’s imports of knit apparel amounted to US$ 928.73 million in 2007, which is 0.57 per cent of the total imports of Poland. Under the category of Knit Apparel, 6109 (T-Shirts, Singlet, Tank Tops Etc, Knit Or Crochet), 6110 (Jerseys, Pullovers, Cardigans, Waistcoats, Etc, Knit Or Crocheted) 6104 (Women's Or Girls' Suits, Dresses, Skirts, Shorts, Etc), 6115 (Panty Hose, Tights, Stockings, Other Hosiery, Knit Or Crocheted)  and 6108 (Women's Or Girls' Slips, Panties, Pyjamas, Bathrobes etc) are the most significant items of import. The imports of all these items have increased during 2005-07 in value terms, with the largest increase during 2007 being in the case of 6104 (Women's Or Girls' Suits, Dresses, Skirts, Shorts, Etc).

Similarly, Poland’s imports of Woven Apparel amounted to US$ 1035.59 million, which is 0.64 per cent of the total imports of Poland. The most significant items of imports are 6204 (Women's Or Girls' Suits, Jackets, Dresses, Skirts, etc not Knit), 6203 (Men's Or Boys' Suits, Jackets, Trousers, Shorts, Etc, not Knit), 6202 (Women's Or Girls' Overcoats, Capes, Wind- Jackets, Etc), 6201 (Men's Or Boys' Overcoats, Capes, Wind-Jackets, Etc,) and 6205 (Men's Or Boys' Shirts, not Knitted Or Crocheted). Again, the imports of all these items have increased during 2005-07 in value terms, with the largest increase during 2007 being in 6205 (Men's Or Boys' Shirts, not Knitted Or Crocheted).

Poland’s global imports of Knit and Woven Apparel, 2005 to 2007, in value and percentage terms

Table below shows the movement in average global price of imports of Poland of these commodities and the change in quantity imported. It can be seen that in case of Knit Apparel there has been a decline in the quantity imported of 6108 (Women's Or Girls' Slips, Panties, Pyjamas, Bathrobes etc) and 6110 (Jerseys, Pullovers, Cardigans, Waistcoats, Etc, Knitted or Crocheted) during 2007. However, in the case of 6108 the quantity imported has fallen continuously from 2005 to 2007, in case of 6110, there was first an increase in the quantity imported in 2006 and then a fall in 2007. It can further be noted that there has been a sharp increase in the price of 6108 (81 per cent) and 6110 (64 per cent) during 2007, which could have been responsible for the fall in quantity imported by Poland.

Average global price and quantity imported of Knit and Woven Apparel, 2005 to 2007

In case of Woven Apparel, 6201 (Men's or Boys' Overcoats, Capes, Wind-Jackets, Etc), 6202(Women's or Girls' Overcoats, Capes, Wind- Jackets, Etc) and 6205 (Men's or Boys' Shirts, Not Knitted or Crocheted) have experienced in fall in quantity imported during 2006-07. In case of all these commodities there was first an increase in quantity imported during 2006 and then a fall of 5 per cent, 12 per cent and 7 per cent respectively in 2007. Here again, a large increase in price of these commodities could have led to a decline in imports of Poland.

Poland’s tariffs

Total Tariff lines for RMG in Poland are 448 at the 10 Digit HS Code level out which 174 are under HS Chapter 61 (Knit Apparel) and 274 are under HS Chapter 62 (Woven Apparel).  The tabulation below provides duty range under HS Chapter 61 & 62 for Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam: