Poland Seeks Increased Imports of Vietnamese Shrimp and Pepper

Polish businesses are increasingly seeking to source agricultural and food products from Vietnam, with a notable interest in shrimp and pepper. Tomasz Parzybut, Chairman of the Polish Meat Processors Association, highlighted this trend at a recent event in Ho Chi Minh City, part of the "Taste Europe" campaign. He stated that Polish companies have a growing demand for agricultural and food products from Vietnam. Specifically, one of Poland's leading beef producers is exploring shrimp supply sources with a partner in Ho Chi Minh City for a burger concept. Another company dedicated a day to investigating import opportunities for Vietnamese pepper. According to customs data, Vietnam's exports of agricultural and food products (including seafood, coffee, tea, pepper, etc.) to Poland reached nearly $138 million in the first half of this year, a 4.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Seafood and pepper exports both saw a significant rise of 43%, reaching over $21 million and $10 million respectively. Piotr Harasimowicz, Head of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, noted that Poland imports many products from Vietnamese businesses, such as rice, coffee, noodles, coconut, and seafood. He believes the potential for economic cooperation in this sector remains largely untapped. Conversely, Polish agricultural and food products are also expanding their reach in the Vietnamese market. In the first half of the year, Vietnam imported nearly $36.7 million worth of seafood, milk, and dairy products from Poland, a 73.5% increase year-on-year. The surge was primarily driven by milk and dairy products, with export value more than doubling (122.6%). Frozen pork and apples are also gaining traction among Vietnamese consumers. Polish frozen pork exports to Vietnam increased by 34% last year. Approximately 1,500 tons of Polish apples appeared in Vietnamese supermarkets last year, according to Bożena Wróblewska, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of the Trade Promotion Agency at the Polish Chamber of Commerce. Poland is currently the largest apple producer in the EU. Last year, the value of agricultural and food product exports to Vietnam reached nearly 230 million euros, with live animals and animal products accounting for over 201 million euros, according to Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS). Andrzej Arendarski, President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce, views Southeast Asia as a strategic growth market, with Vietnam standing out due to its rapidly developing economy and long-standing business ties with Poland. By Di Tùng