Plastic waste exports in Poland
Poland: Plastic waste exports was 138,380 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Poland, 1994–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, plastic waste exports in Poland stood at 138,380 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Poland peaked at 192,224 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2004.
Poland ranks 4th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Poland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 6,954 tonnes | — |
| 1995 | 7,342 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 5,258 tonnes | -28.4% |
| 1997 | 6,751 tonnes | +28.4% |
| 1998 | 7,204 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 7,827 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 11,342 tonnes | +44.9% |
| 2001 | 11,680 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 13,687 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 2003 | 17,423 tonnes | +27.3% |
| 2004 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2005 | 40,048 tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 52,681 tonnes | +31.5% |
| 2007 | 59,140 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 69,485 tonnes | +17.5% |
| 2009 | 100,897 tonnes | +45.2% |
| 2010 | 107,541 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 102,736 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 101,301 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 99,431 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 138,834 tonnes | +39.6% |
| 2015 | 166,378 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 2016 | 192,224 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 2017 | 166,503 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 2018 | 158,266 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 165,924 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 155,891 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 170,523 tonnes | — |
| 2023 | 136,231 tonnes | -20.1% |
| 2024 | 138,380 tonnes | +1.6% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 138,380 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 30.2× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Poland's 138,380 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 19.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Poland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | -100.0% | 17,423 tonnes | 0 tonnes |
| 2021 | -100.0% | 155,891 tonnes | 0 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6,889 tonnes | 5,258 tonnes | 7,827 tonnes | 6 |
| 2000s | 37,638 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 100,897 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 139,914 tonnes | 99,431 tonnes | 192,224 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 120,205 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 170,523 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More environment data for Poland
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.777 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.06 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.1029 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -4.67 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Poland?
- Plastic waste exports in Poland was 138,380 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 192,224 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2004.
- How does Poland rank for plastic waste exports?
- Poland ranks 4th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Poland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.