EVALUATING THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF POLISH FURNITURE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN COMPARISON TO THE SELECTED EU COUNTRIES

The international competitiveness in the foreign trade of the Polish furniture manufacturing industry products in comparison to other EU countries is evaluated in the paper. Poland is the fourth largest furniture exporter in the world and the third in the EU. The source of the research material was the statistical database of the International Trade Centre (ITC). The years 2010-2017 were analysed in the research. The selected result-oriented indicators enabling the ex post determination of competitiveness were utilized. The Polish furniture exporters show a relatively large competitive advantage in the foreign trade. A high level of the conducted export specialization and a relatively favourable level of the relative import penetration index were noted. The lack of a relative advantage of the Polish furniture exports was observed in the cases of Estonia and Lithuania, i.e. in the countries where the furniture manufacturing industry is important for the national economy. The highest competitive advantage in terms of the furniture exports was obtained in relation to small countries, ones with a small share in the value generation of the EU furniture manufacturing. Poland has also demonstrated competitiveness in relation to its largest competitors from the EU, Germany and Italy.