The European industrial sector is grappling with an unprecedented crisis, marked by a sixfold acceleration in plant closures since 2022. Simultaneously, Poland's agricultural sector is recording record investments in machinery, exceeding PLN 7.5 billion. In the retail sector, the Carrefour Group has announced a new strategy for 2030, focusing on Western markets and Brazil, which casts a new light on the future of its Polish branch.

Continental Industrial Collapse

The rate of plant closures in Europe has increased sixfold since 2022, threatening permanent deindustrialization and a loss of competitiveness against global markets.

Investment Boom in Agriculture

Polish farmers spent PLN 7.5 billion on modern equipment in 2025, representing a growth dynamic of nearly 24.5% year-on-year.

Carrefour's New Priorities

The French retail giant is focusing its 2030 strategy on French, Spanish, and Brazilian markets, reducing the priority of its Polish branch.

The situation of Europe's chemical industry and heavy industry is causing serious concern among experts. According to the Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry (PIPC), citing data from CEFIC, the rate of production shutdowns on the Old Continent has increased sixfold since 2022. Industry leaders warn that Europe is losing not only current production capacity but also the ability to build modern factories in the future. Despite two years having passed since the signing of the Antwerp Declaration, 83% of its postulates aimed at protecting the competitiveness of EU industry have not been implemented by the European Commission. The Antwerp Declaration from February 2024 was a joint appeal by over 70 industry leaders to create a pact for a clean industry to prevent Europe's deindustrialization in the face of high energy prices. Against this backdrop, the situation in Polish agriculture appears quite different. The year 2025 brought a surge in investments in agricultural machinery and equipment. Their total value reached PLN 7.5 billion, representing an increase of nearly 25% year-on-year. Farm modernization relies primarily on external financing, such as leasing and loans. This development is stimulated by, among others, ARiMR, which promotes the concept of Agriculture 5.0, focusing on automation, digitalization, and advanced software. Italian equipment manufacturers are also experiencing a revival, noting a 12% increase in exports to Poland. „The European Commission has still not implemented 83% of the assumptions of the Antwerp Declaration, which are crucial for the industry's resilience to crises.” — Tomasz Zieliński Meanwhile, in the large-scale retail sector, the global Carrefour Group presented its "Carrefour 2030" strategy. The plan involves a market offensive focused on three key areas: France, Spain, and Brazil. These markets are to form the foundation for the group's growth and profitability in the coming years. Poland, while remaining an important part of the network, has been excluded from the group of priority investment markets. The strategy foresees cost optimization and increased emphasis on artificial intelligence-based technologies, which is intended to enable more effective competition with giants like Lidl and Biedronka. Investments in Agricultural Machinery in Poland: 2024: 6.02, 2025: 7.5 6-fold — increase in the rate of factory closures in Europe

Mentioned People

  • Tomasz Zieliński — President of the Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry, warning about the investment crisis in the European Union.
  • Mariateresa Maschio — President of FederUnacoma, reporting on the increase in exports of Italian agricultural machinery to Poland.