eCommerce companies looking for cross-border opportunities in Europe should definitely consider shipping to Poland. The Central European country boasts a growing economy and Internet-savvy population that offers a great option for those looking to break into the EU eCommerce market.

Entering the Polish eCommerce market is a challenging but exciting prospect for online merchants. Before you start shipping to Poland, it’s important to better understand the country and its eCommerce market. Here’s a quick look at some important market insights, critical information about shipping to Poland and more!

Desktop Online Shopping Dominates in Poland

Poland is the sixth-most populous country in Europe with a population of about 38 million. The country’s GDP per capita is estimated to be about $13,454, a figure set to grow to roughly $16,734 by 2022. Currently, Poland has about 20 million eCommerce users, estimated to increase to 21 million by 2022.

Internet usage in the country is very high for people of all ages. 90 percent of 16-to-24 year olds use the Internet daily while 25-to-34 year olds and 35-to-44 year olds use the web daily at rates of 92 and 81 percent, respectively. 79 percent of 45-to-54 year olds also use the Internet on a daily basis while people 65 percent of those older than 55 log on everyday too.

Total Internet penetration is also estimated to grow from 66.9 percent today to about 69.2 percent by the year 2022. Most online buyers still opt for using laptops and desktops, as a surprising 95 percent of all online purchases are bought from desktops or laptops as opposed to smartphones and other mobile devices in Poland.

Bank Transfers are Top Payment Method in Poland

The favorite payment method of Poles are bank transfers, followed by debit cards and eWallets. The percentage of shoppers paying by credit card and cash-on-delivery is comparatively very low.

Poland has many popular online marketplaces, both local and global in scope.

Local online markets in Poland:

  • Allegro
  • Ceneo
  • Skapiec.pl
  • Onet.pl
  • O2
  • Gazeta.pl

International online markets in Poland:

  • Amazon
  • AliExpress

Fashion items top the list of the most popular products bought online in the country, followed very closely by electronics and media items. These are followed by food and personal care, furniture and appliances, and toys, hobby and DIY items.

Holidays, Summer Top Times to Sell in Poland

There are two main sales seasons in Poland annually.

The winter sales season typically ranges from December until February while the summer sales season starts in July and lasts until August, making both periods a great time to sell online. Valentine's Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in particular are popular times to sell online in Poland due to strong demand for products during those periods.

Shipping to Poland

Before you start shipping to Poland, it's important to gain more insight into major online marketplaces to use like Amazon, couriers that ship to the country and items unable to enter the country due to import regulations.

Here’s a quick look at all of that and more!

Can Amazon Ship to Poland?

Yes, Amazon shipping to Poland is a very popular option for online merchants looking to break into the country’s eCommerce market.

The eCommerce giant has recently opened distribution centers in the European country, making it much easier to both buy and sell products there cost-effectively.

Top Couriers to Use When Shipping to Poland

Many global couriers offer services for shipping to Poland. When shipping to Poland from the U.S. and other countries, it's important to compare courier shipping rates and estimated delivery times to get the best deal possible.

Fortunately, Easyship’s shipping rate calculator makes this very simple to do! Simply enter your shipping information to find the cheapest, fastest and best value courier solutions for shipping and selling to Poland.

A few international couriers and companies that currently offer shipping to Poland include:

Some domestic courier services in Poland also include:

  • Polonez
  • Inchcape
  • Partnerspol

Restricted Items in Poland

As with any country, Poland has its own set of import regulations and restrictions that govern what can and can’t be shipped cross-border into the country.

Some items currently prohibited from being shipped to Poland include:

  • Acid
  • Animal products
  • Coffee
  • Ivory
  • Drugs
  • Ice
  • Paints
  • Plants
  • Seeds
  • Tea
  • Tobacco
  • Cosmetics
  • Gasses
  • Jewelry

A more exhaustive list can be found here.

Poland: One of Europe’s Best eCommerce Opportunities

Poland is a growing and promising eCommerce market thanks to its thriving economy and tech-savvy people. Those looking for a lucrative cross-border eCommerce opportunity in Europe should definitely look into shipping and selling to Poland to grow their business!

Easyship makes this very simple by connecting online merchants with shipping solutions to Poland from various couriers at pre-negotiated rates, automating taxes and duties and offering more transparency into which courier shipping solutions work best. Sign up for free today to take your company cross-border into the lucrative Polish eCommerce market!