Industrial production in Poland weaker than expected in August 2026
Polish industry slowed in August, but the three-month picture still looks better
August industrial production data in Poland came in weaker than expected. The Central Statistical Office said output was 4,3% higher than a year earlier, while economists had expected growth of 6,3% y/y. It is a sign that one month alone does not yet confirm a strong rebound across the sector.
The result was affected by a smaller number of working days than in July, but seasonally adjusted data — after removing typical calendar fluctuations — also disappointed. Month on month, production fell by 7,5%, and after seasonal adjustment by 1,2%. On an annual basis, after that adjustment, growth amounted to 3,0%, compared with 4,2% in July.
Still, it is worth looking beyond a single reading. The three-month moving average of annual production growth, which averages the last three months, rose after August to 5,50%. That is the highest level since November 2022. This suggests that after several years of weaker activity, industry is starting to emerge from stagnation, although the pace of improvement is uneven.
Across the first eight months of 2026, the value of sold industrial production was 3,5% higher than a year earlier. For comparison, in January-August last year the increase was 2,0% y/y. On an annual basis, output rose in 25 z 34 industrial divisions.
The strongest improvement came from companies producing electrical equipment, where growth was 18,7% y/y, machinery and equipment, where it reached 122,8%, and firms involved in waste management, with a reading of 10,8%. Power plants, gas utilities and heating plants also performed well, with growth of 10,5%. Weaker results were posted by tobacco products, at -11,7%, textile products, at -4,9%, and furniture, at -3,2%.
Among the main industrial groups, mining and quarrying performed best, with sales up 18,7% y/y. Manufacturing, the most important segment, increased output by only 3,4%. Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply recorded growth of 10,5%, while water supply and recycling rose by 9,5%.
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