The trade turnover between Poland and the United Kingdom last year amounted to a 9.8 million pounds (45 million), indicating that Poland has a higher trade surplus with the U.K than any other country.

The findings were analysed in Polish daily Rzeczpospolita this morning, on a day when London is busy advancing plans to aid its oldest historical ally, Portugal, amidst the collapse of that country's economy.

According to statistics from 2010, Polish exports to Britain have risen in leaps and bounds, with Poland dispatching some 1.3 billion pounds more to Britain last year than it did in 2009.

For 2010, Polish exports were worth some 6 billion pounds (around 30 billion zloty), whilst imports came in at 3.8 billion (17 billion zloty.)

Since 1996, Polish exports to Britain have increased tenfold. Unsurprisingly, Poland's accession to the EU in 2004, coupled with the general lurch forwards following the introduction of a free market economy in 1989, are the key landmarks.

The UK is now the third largest export market for the Poles, following immediate neighbour Germany and France.

According to the research, the chief beneficiaries are the pharmaceutical, automotive and computer industries. (nh)