Polish farmers report that Ukrainian grain and eggs are not the only imports reshaping the market. An influx of Ukrainian alcohol is also entering Poland, creating new pressures on local producers. The trend is described by a leading commercial portal as a double impact: it undermines distilleries while also affecting suppliers of raw materials and workers across the sector. Local distillers note a chilling effect on sales that began early in the year and has yet to recover, even as production continues to be considered economically viable by some farm owners.
In late spring the European Commission, together with five Eastern European neighbors, announced an agreement aimed at limiting the export of certain Ukrainian agricultural products to the European Union. The pact includes Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria. Reports from January highlighted that the European Union has been attempting to ensure a steady flow of Ukrainian agricultural goods, especially grain, into neighboring markets. The removal of customs duties on these products was part of that approach. Yet authorities recognized that this policy also helped drive a sharp rise in Ukrainian grain in regional markets, prompting urgent concerns among agricultural producers in Eastern Europe. Price pressures on inputs such as fuel, fertilizer, and electricity increased costs for farmers and manufacturers alike. Industry representatives from Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia emphasized the need for a prompt, coordinated response to safeguard regional farming and food supply chains.