Concentrated apple juice (AJC) is a globally traded commodity, with major producers such as China, Poland, and the United States supplying AJC to markets worldwide. The aim of this article is to determine the competitive position of the main global exporters of concentrated apple juice. It also seeks to analyze changes in their positions over the period from 2005 to 2023. Assessing competitive position is important for several economic and business reasons, including identifying leading exporters and recognizing both growing and declining markets. The competitive position was measured using Market Share (MS) indicators, Gross and Net Export Orientation indicators (E_gr, E_net), and the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index. The results reveal significant structural shifts in global AJC trade. Most notably, China’s declining competitiveness, reflected across all indicators, led to its loss of market leadership. This raises questions about the reasons for this decline and whether it presents opportunities for other exporters. This signals a broader reconfiguration in the global AJC supply chain, driven in part by domestic economic changes, such as rising consumption and decreasing export orientation. Simultaneously, other countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, show varying degrees of competitive growth, with Moldova and Ukraine emerging as key players. These trends suggest a diversification of supply sources and a more fragmented competitive landscape. Although national differences persist, the analysis indicates that structural and economic transformations, rather than short-term price signals, are driving the evolving global competitiveness in the AJC market. The observed weak correlations between prior-year apple prices and RCA confirm that broader market and policy factors play a more decisive role.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the international competitiveness of Polish fruits and their processed products in comparison to those of major global exporters. The adopted research approach is grounded in the theoretical foundations of international trade. A comparative analysis allows for identifying key competitive advantages and weaknesses. Quantitative data analysis was employed to measure international competitiveness using key indicators such as Market Share (MS), Trade Balance, Competitiveness Ratio (CR), Revealed comparative advantage (RCA), Intra-Industry Trade (IIT), and Terms of Trade (ToT). These metrics were calculated based on data obtained from Comtrade, with results presented in a time-series format to capture long-term trends. An extensive literature review was conducted to examine the various definitions and frameworks of international competitiveness. The decline in the level of indicators that include imports in their formulas (CRs) may lead to an increase in the level of indicators that take exports into account (e.g., foreign trade balance and share in global exports). For example, a strong increase in the import of concentrated apple juice results in an increase in the export of this product and an improvement in the competitive position on the global market. The insights from these indicators can assist policymakers in developing targeted strategies to enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, such as improving production methods, negotiating better trade agreements, or investing in innovation and quality improvement.

This study analyzes the competitive asymmetries and trade effects of the proposed EU–Mercosur Trade Agreement on the European Union’s (EU) and Polish agri-food sectors. The comparative analysis reveals that Mercosur holds a significant structural advantage driven by substantially lower labor costs, cheaper agricultural land, and a climate permitting multiple harvests. This cost advantage is further compounded by weaker regulatory standards (e.g., on pesticides and antibiotics). This structural edge is most pronounced in high-volume commodities, leading to Mercosur trade surpluses in products such as soybeans, sugar cane, and wheat, which pose the primary competitive threats to the EU market. Conversely, the EU maintains an intensive advantage through superior yields in intensive farming (e.g., maize) and specialization in high-value, processed products. This creates quantifiable export opportunities for EU/Polish producers in sectors where Mercosur is a consistent net importer, notably other frozen vegetables, preserved tomatoes, and apples. The findings confirm an asymmetric effect of liberalization, which necessitates a dual strategy of internal structural reform (e.g., the EU Protein Strategy) and the implementation of external protective mechanisms, including strategic Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) adaptations and safeguard clauses, to maintain the long-term competitiveness and Supply Chain Resilience of European agriculture.

The primary purpose of the paper was to evaluate the international competitiveness of Polish fruits and their processed products in comparison to major global exporters. A comparative analysis allows for identifying key competitive advantages and weaknesses. Quantitative data analysis was employed to measure international competitiveness using key indicators such as Market Share (MS), Trade Balance, Competitiveness Ratio (CR), Import Penetration (IP), Intra-Industry Trade (IIT), and Terms of Trade (ToT). These metrics were calculated based on data obtained from Comtrade, with results presented in a time-series format to capture long-term trends. An extensive literature review was conducted to examine various definitions and frameworks of international competitiveness. The study revisits conventional competitiveness indicators to address their limitations in reflecting contemporary global market dynamics. The reinterpretation acknowledges the challenges posed by increased capital mobility and evolving trade patterns, thereby enhancing the accuracy of competitiveness assessments. The study takes into account the need to reinterpret commonly used indicators in the literature due to their decreasing relevance in the context of global market dynamics, characterized by increasing trade and capital flows. The decline in the level of indicators that include imports in their formulas (IP and CR) may lead to an increase in the level of indicators that take exports into account (foreign trade balance, share in global exports). For example, a strong increase in the import of concentrated apple juice results in an increase in the export of this product and an improvement in the competitive position on the global market.

Cel pracy: Głównym celem pracy jest ocena programów operacyjnych (P.O.) wdrażanych w organizacjach producentów owoców i warzyw (OP) jako narzędzia Wspólnej Polityki Rolnej (WPR) oraz sformułowanie rekomendacji na przyszłośćMateriał i metody: Metody badawcze opierają się na przeglądzie literatury przedmiotu oraz analizie dokumentów źródłowych związanych z P.O. (niepublikowane raporty agencji rządowych, akty prawne), wdrażanymi w latach 2013-2018. Opinie beneficjentów na temat P.O. uzyskano przeprowadzając wywiady kwestionariuszowe metodą CATI w populacji organizacji producentów owoców i warzyw (OP) korzystających z P.O.Wyniki: Zidentyfikowano szereg słabości wynikających z wdrażania P.O., tj. nadmierne obciążenie skomplikowanymi obowiązkami administracyjnymi, czasochłonne i powtarzające się kontrole prowadzone w OP i niedostosowane mierniki rezultatów, które zniechęcają producentów do korzystania z P.O.Wnioski: Przyszłe programy operacyjne powinny zawierać większą liczbę dozwolonych do realizacji działań oraz gwarantować beneficjentom większą swobodę wyboru. Kontrole wykorzystania środków publicznych powinny być prowadzone sprawnie, uwzględniając konieczność minimalizacji nakładów pracy i innych obciążeń członków OP. Do oceny skuteczności P.O. powinny być zastosowane wskaźniki, które w sposób bardziej adekwatny mierzą rezultat podejmowanych działań i jednocześnie nie są uciążliwe dla beneficjentów.