Coface’s 10th Poland Payment Survey, conducted among 326 companies, shows a marked decline in payment discipline, with average payment delays reaching 53 days, their highest level since 2021.
This deterioration stands in contrast to Poland’s strong economic performance in 2025, when GDP expanded by 3.6%, driven by robust domestic demand. However, rising labor costs, persistently high interest rates, and a record number of corporate insolvencies (6,566 cases) have placed growing pressure on businesses. As a result, operating conditions have become more challenging, despite Poland remaining one of Europe’s fastest‑growing large economies.
Payment terms: increasingly permissive conditions
Payment terms continued to lengthen, with the average increasing from 42.2 to 54.1 days—the longest timeframe recorded since the survey’s launch in 2017. While payment terms of under 30 days still account for the largest share (35%), medium‑length terms (61–150 days) are becoming more widespread. The longest payment terms are observed in the metals sector (72 days), followed by information and communication technologies (ICT) and construction.
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Payment delays: weakening payment discipline across sectors
Payment delays have increased across most sectors, highlighting a continued erosion of payment discipline. The longest delays are now recorded in the metals sector (64 days), followed by agri‑food (61 days) and construction (59 days). At the same time, the share of companies reporting no overdue payments has fallen sharply, from 14.6% to 8.5%. In contrast, the proportion of firms with overdue receivables exceeding 20% of annual turnover has risen significantly, illustrating growing pressure on corporate cash flow.
When it comes to recovery strategies, internal monitoring and debt collection remain the most widely used approach (38%). However, reliance on third‑party debt collection services has increased markedly, reaching 34%, reflecting the rising complexity and persistence of payment delays.
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Intensifying Chinese competition reshapes market dynamics
This year’s survey highlights a growing competitive pressure from Chinese companies on the Polish market. In 2025, Chinese imports to Poland increased by 11.4%, while Polish exports to China declined by 7.5%, underscoring a widening trade imbalance and stronger competitive forces.
The sectors most affected include agri‑food, chemicals, and automotive, with the automotive industry standing out in particular. Chinese manufacturers are increasingly entering the market with highly competitive offerings, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) segment, accelerating price competition. As a result, the most frequently cited impacts of rising Chinese competition are pressure on profit margins (reported by 40% of respondents) and downward pressure on prices (34%), weighing on business profitability across several industries.
2026 outlook: gradual normalization and growing business confidence
Despite the current challenges, companies surveyed remain cautiously optimistic about the year ahead. Nearly half of respondents (48%) expect an improvement in business activity in 2026, while only 8% anticipate a deterioration.
The study forecasts that Poland’s GDP growth will accelerate to 3.8% in 2026, supported by stronger absorption of EU funds and easing cost pressures. Against this improving macroeconomic backdrop, Coface has upgraded Poland’s country risk assessment to A3, reflecting a more favorable medium‑term outlook for economic stability and business conditions.
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