Competition Between Mercosur Countries And Poland On The European Union Market For Agri-Food Products

The liberalization of international agri-food trade and the deepening of economic integration between the European Union and third countries significantly affect the conditions of competition in the common market. The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement signed in December 2024 marks a new stage in economic relations between the EU and South American countries. The aim of the article is to assess the extent and nature of competition between Poland and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) on the EU market for agri-food products. The analysis is based on EU import data for the period 2010-2024 obtained from the WITS database and on the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index calculated for the EU market. The study was conducted at the HS6 level of product disaggregation. The results indicate clear differences in the export specialization of Poland and the Mercosur countries. Poland shows revealed comparative advantages mainly in processed products and products of animal origin, characterized by higher value added and a more diversified export structure. In contrast, the Mercosur countries specialize in the export of primary agricultural commodities and semi-processed products, such as beef, soybeans, maize and sugar, with a high level of product concentration. Direct competition between Poland and Mercosur on the EU market is limited to a relatively small number of product groups, mainly in the beef sector, and is differentiated by price and quality segments. The results suggest that trade liberalization under the EU-Mercosur agreement may increase competitive pressure in selected market segments, but does not pose a systemic threat to the competitive position of the Polish agri-food sector on the EU market.