In 2020, despite the pandemic of the coronavirus COVID-19, the Program for National Roads Construction was continued, planned until 2023 with a prospect until 2025. It assumes completion and continuation with regard to construction of the system of express roads and motorways and construction of bypasses in the system of national roads. In the sector of road construction the consumption of bitumen products remained at a stable level.
Unfortunately, as a consequence of moving the financial resources in local governments to support local hospitals, the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic had a direct impact on the limitations in financing repairs and construction of new sections of municipal roads, such as local-governmental poviat, city and district roads. Due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic a number of companies prolonged their stoppage period. A slight recovery in the road industry was observed since the second half of June. Polish government announced information about supporting local road construction industry as a key sector for recovering the economy. However, it did not translate into an intensified activeness of key customers.
Similarly to previous years, domestic producers ensured supplies of bitumen products (annual demand at the level of 1.1 – 1.2 million tonnes) in over 80%. The remaining part was imported, primarily from Germany, Czech Republic, and Hungary.
The maintenance shutdown in the period April/May 2020 led to a disturbance of the supply chain from the key localisation for the segment, which is the refinery PCK in Schwedt, Germany. However, in the past year supplies from Hungary showed in a positive light, where the segment gained a wider access to bitumen products than in previous years.
Trade organisations and institutions:
Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of Poland
General Directorate for National Roads and Highways
Polish Asphalt Pavement Association
Polish Economic Road Association”
