In 2024, the Internal Security Agency (ABW), the Foreign Intelligence Agency (AW), and the Ministry of Defense (MON) argued that the state had to cancel the tender for the operator of the grain terminal for reasons of national security. The alleged threat was handing over a quay in the Port of Gdynia to companies linked to the Viterra group. The problem, however, is that in the second tender the same company won again — and in August this year, an agreement was signed with it. The only tangible result of the government’s actions is losses estimated at around 100 million PLN.
In 2022 and 2023, the agroport case seemed crucial for the Polish state. With the threat of Black Sea ports being blocked, Poland had a chance to take over part of Ukraine’s grain exports. The first tender for leasing the quay, organized still under the PiS government, was won by a consortium of Szczecin Bulk Terminal, Tapini, and Ribera — all tied to the international Viterra group. At the time, Civic Coalition (KO) politicians called it a scandal. In their view, the quay should have gone to the state-owned Krajowa Grupa Spożywcza (National Food Group). Therefore, after the change of power, it was decided — with the help of the security services — to annul the tender. The Internal Security Agency, the Foreign Intelligence Agency, and the Ministry of Defense all stepped in.
“The tender had to be annulled. Opinions were fabricated. I cannot say what those opinions contained because they were classified. I have access to classified information and I saw them. I assure you, the state has never seen anything more ridiculous. But those documents were classified,” said Marek Gróbarczyk, former Minister of Maritime Economy.
In October 2024, a second tender was announced, in which the National Food Group again lost to the same consortium that had won the first time. Finally, at the end of August 2025, a 30-year contract was signed — the very contract that ABW, AW, and MON had in March 2024 considered a threat to national security.
During the two-year standoff, the Port of Gdynia received no revenue from the lease contract. Losses from this alone are estimated at 60 million PLN. That’s not all: the Port Authority also kept 50 terminal employees on its payroll. The state also lost out on tax revenues. In total, losses may have exceeded 100 million PLN.
PiS politicians have therefore filed a notice with the prosecutor’s office and requested an audit by the Supreme Audit Office (NIK). According to MPs, the responsibility for the chaos lies with Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak, his deputy Arkadiusz Marchewka, and ministry director Paweł Krężel.