The share of large household appliances produced in 3rd countries is expanding in the European Union market. They already account for around 44% of all equipment available on shelves in the associate States. European manufacture warns against the threat of failure of competitiveness and calls on the EU institutions to set up a plan for the household appliances industry. They want lower energy prices, consistent regulations or incentives to invest in robotics.
According to the “Eggage marketplace study 2025/2026” prepared by the Association of AGD Employers – APPLiA Polska, 39 percent of EU production of AGD in the European Union comes from Poland. In categories specified as dishwashers, washing machines or dryers, home plants have more than 50 percent share. Poland is expanding its share despite the decline in home production, but this is due to decreasing production across the Union.
– Poland is the main maker of household appliances in the European Union. We're very happy, but that doesn't mean we don't have problems. The share of Polish production and sales on the European marketplace is decreasing. Although slightly, due to the fact that we defend ourselves in a alternatively effective way, there are global factors that make our work hard – says Newseria Wojciech Konecki, president of the Association of household Employers – APPLiA Polska.
Across the European Union, the household appliances manufacture employs 1 million people and generates €44 billion in gross in the European supply chains. Only in Poland in 2025 100 1000 people worked straight or indirectly there. However, the closure of respective factories resulted in a sharp decrease in the number of employees.
– The household appliances manufacture is rather crucial for the economy. Compared to our sister industries, only the furniture manufacture is ahead of us. We're bigger than any other, but possibly car parts. We have 30 factories – emphasizes Wojciech Konecki.
In 2025 the value of sold production in the household appliances sector amounted to PLN 25.5 billion. That's 5 percent little than a year. For comparison, the furniture manufacture generated PLN 49 billion, the window – PLN 23 billion, and TVs – PLN 17 billion.
– What hurts us very much is that only last year 5 factories in our manufacture were closed. I'm besides talking about colleagues in another industries, so that's a beautiful disturbing signal. any actions must happen immediately, due to the fact that in a fewer years we may just be gone. Although as a householder, we have passed different paths of destiny and can defend ourselves and even attack – added the expert.
The APPLiA study highlights the serious challenge of competition for producers outside the European Union. In 2024, EU production accounted for 56% of the full EU sales of large household appliances, while 59% had previously been. In any categories of equipment, the share of Union production is already little than half. China is the largest supplier of large household appliances to the EU (43% in 2025). Imports from this country (in pieces) are 90% higher than before the pandemic.
– We must surely take care of supply chains and labour supply. We must call for better government at European Union level, but besides in the Polish Parliament. It is known that capital, work and technology are needed to produce. We as Poland in terms of robotization and digitization are not pioneers and we request support. We besides request it in the context of the competitiveness of our production compared to imported products. We are here to guarantee equal opportunities – noted the president of the Association of home Employers – APPLiA Polska.
From the study of the Polish economical Institute “Supporting the robotization process in Poland. Recommendations" from May 2025 shows that in the EU industrial processing sector 55 888 industrial robots were installed in 2023, in Poland – 2203. This gives 61 robots per 10,000 employees in our industrial processing sector.
– The household appliances manufacture is not an island. We know that we are in the full spectrum of consumer industries that have akin problems. Especially in Poland, energy utilized for production is 1 of the most expensive, if not the most costly on the European market. Without aid in this substance we will most likely not hold our position – believes Wojciech Konecki. – There are regulations that affect us very strongly, specified as CBAM or steel regulations, where quotas are reduced and duties are increased. This helps steel producers in Europe, but it does not aid customers due to the fact that it is mostly imported. There are a number of macroeconomic factors that affect the competitiveness of our manufacture over the longer term.
CBAM is simply a mechanics for equalising prices at borders in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. It concerns natural materials and semi-finished products whose production in non-EU countries causes the strongest greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, including steel, cement, aluminium and even electricity. The CBAM has been full in force since 1 January 2026 for Union importers who, in certain cases, will gotta get certificates from national authorities.
– Most of the natural materials needed for our production are covered by this environmental, ecological and already finished products that enter the European marketplace are not. We aim to guarantee equal opportunities for European and abroad producers – points out the expert. – Regulatory tuning is peculiarly needed where we talk about competitiveness and the basis of our activity.
In February this year, the Association of AGD Employers – APPLiA Poland called for the preparation of an EU action plan for the household appliances industry. The 3 pillars to be included in the report, according to the authors, are the provision of competitive production conditions (accessible energy, ensuring equal opportunities and sustainable access to natural materials), expanding predictability and consistency of EU law, promoting innovation and investments in digitalisation, artificial intelligence, sustainable plan and competence to keep production and advanced quality jobs in the European Union.
Sustainable plan and another elements related to reducing environmental impacts have been an crucial part of the manufacture in fresh years. A number of EU government concerns this area.
"Both the European Union, the European Commission and Polish legislators are trying to make the equipment more user-friendly. Appropriate databases have been created in which consumers can check individual products. The alleged right to repair was introduced. It will be made even easier as the eco-design of individual products will be at a higher level – explains Wojciech Konecki.
For manufacturers, this means making the method documentation available to services and ensuring the availability of spare parts up to 10 years after completion of the model.
A digital product passport will besides be introduced, which will include applicable information to support the sustainable improvement of products, promoting their closed circulation and strengthening compliance with legal provisions. They have not yet been clarified by the European Commission, but may include: product method parameters, materials and their origin, corrective actions, recycling possibilities or impacts on the environment during the life cycle.
– The aim is to seal the market, fight the grey region and products that are illegally introduced into Poland, but besides to make it easier for consumers to choose between individual players, brands and products. In the product passport we will see all data that we do not always see in price comparisons. We do not even realize that any consumers want to know much more about the product or the manufacturer, about its improvement strategy and so search fresh sources of knowledge. This direction of change in the European Union we support – says president of the Association of household Employers – APPLiA Polska.