This winter, prices for Christmas trees are climbing throughout Europe, with Polish retailers anticipating a 5‑10 % rise over last year, experts warn the spread can be wide.
How Much Are Prices Rising?
Polish Association of Christmas Tree Plantations president Marcin Kłopociński told “Fakt” that tree prices have risen across Europe, reaching up to three euros per tree. In Poland, retail prices are expected to climb 5‑10 % versus the previous year, though an exact amount is hard to pin down because costs depend on tree appearance, health, and sale location.
He cited examples of price variation: a small town might accept a 100‑PLN purchase for a bigger tree, while a client in a major city could pay 500 PLN after demanding a missing needle. He added that early pandemic‑era increases set a precedent for the current spread.
Are Market‑Sold Trees Worth It?
Kłopociński argues that store‑sold trees are substantially lower quality than those sold by forest employees. In a recent test, market spruce priced at 49 PLN were low and mostly weak, and most came from Denmark with many defects.
A high‑quality Danish tree would cost about 30 € wholesale; after adding transport, VAT, and retail margins, the price would top 300 PLN.
Where Do Polish Christmas Trees Come From?
The expert notes that more high‑quality trees are exported. Many arrive from Denmark and some from Germany, while Polish plantations belong to foreign firms that send trees to Western Europe. Polish plantations export 15‑25 % of their production; foreign‑owned plantations in Poland ship about 80 %.
