Olan McEvoy
Research expert covering the European Union for society, economy, and politics.
Get in touch with us nowEU Internal Trade: monthly exports from select EU member states 1999-2024
Among the European Union member states who rank as the fifth to tenth largest exporters in the union, there have been some dramatic increases in exports to other EU countries since 1999. Notably, Poland and Czechia have seen their export sectors boom since joining the EU in 2004, with Poland overtaking Spain to become the fifth largest exporter in late 2021.
Along with Hungary, these 'eastern enlargement' countries have been successful in attracting investment from Western European companies, who seek to 'near-shore' their manufacturing to Central & Eastern Europe to take advantage of the relatively low wages, skilled populations, and lack of export/import barriers compared with 'off-shoring' production to regions such as South-East Asia.
Along with Hungary, these 'eastern enlargement' countries have been successful in attracting investment from Western European companies, who seek to 'near-shore' their manufacturing to Central & Eastern Europe to take advantage of the relatively low wages, skilled populations, and lack of export/import barriers compared with 'off-shoring' production to regions such as South-East Asia.
