Austrian Foreign Trade News and Analysis

Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian foreign trade

Retail Trade with Significant Drop in Revenue in July

Adjusted for inflation, revenue of the Austrian retail companies declined by 4.6% compared to the previous year.

September 8, 2011

Austrian Foreign Trade Rising Significantly

January to June 2011: Austrian imports rose by almost 19%, Austrian exports increased by more than 17%

September 6, 2011

Economic Upward Trend Continued in Second Quarter

From April to June, Austrian GDP grew by 1% compared to the first three months of 2011 while the euro zone average was only 0.2%.

August 16, 2011

Foreign Trade Volume Keeps Growing

Austrian imports and exports both increased by more than 20% in the period from January to May 2011. The global foreign trade balance showed a deficit of € 2.59bn.

August 5, 2011

Austrians Buy Less – Sales in Retail Trade Dropped 0.8%

Sales volume of food retail trade was up 0.3% in the first half of the year while the non-food sector registered a decline by 0.8%.

August 1, 2011

“Austria Was Boosted by EU Accession, Euro and Opening to Eastern Europe”

Bank Austria analyzed the development of Austria since the EU accession in 1995. It concluded that the economy has taken full advantage of the opportunities offered by the changes.

July 28, 2011

Retail Trade: No Improvement Expected

After weak first six months, the Austrian retail sector hopes for increasing demand in the second half of 2011. Weak development of incomes reduces consumers’ willingness to spend.

July 27, 2011

Agricultural Exports Are Booming

Foreign demand for fruits, vegetables and other products from Austria is growing. Exports went up 21% and amounted to € 2.18bn in the first quarter of 2011.

July 21, 2011

Crisis Reaches Retail Sector

Austria’s retail industry starts to feel the effects of a high inflation rate and the euro crisis. In May, revenues declined by 2.3%.

July 21, 2011

Strong Current Account Balance Is Driven by Exports

The Austrian current account showed a surplus of € 3.8bn in the first quarter of 2011. The total amount of Austrian FDI was higher than in the full year 2010.

July 12, 2011

Strong Development of Exports in Austrian Machinery Industry

In the first three months of the year, Austrian enterprises exported machinery and metalware for € 6.04bn. Germany is the main trading partner of the industry.

July 11, 2011

January to April: Dynamic Development in Foreign Trade

Austrian imports and exports increased by one fifth in the period from January to April 2011. The global foreign trade balance showed a deficit of € 2.08bn.

July 8, 2011

Foreign Trade: € 35m for Promotion of Exports

82% of Austrian exports go to other European countries. The state and the Economic Chamber start a new initiative to increase trade with BRIC countries.

July 4, 2011

Austria’s Foreign Trade Close to Record Level

Austrian imports and exports recovered strongly and increased by more than 16% in the year 2010. The trade balance deficit amounted to € 4.28bn.

June 30, 2011

WKÖ: Economic Talks with the Macedonian President

80 Austrian enterprises are already active in Macedonia. Exports to the country increased by 17% in the first quarter of the year.

June 21, 2011

Retail Sector: New Discussion about Sunday Opening

The current dispute is about the right to open shops on certain lucrative Sundays. The operator of a shopping center has brought in an action at the Constitutional Court.

June 20, 2011

Trade with the Czech Republic Is Booming

Austrian companies increased their exports to the country by 32% in the first quarter of the year. In 2010, Austria was the biggest foreign investor.

June 9, 2011

Strong Growth in Foreign Trade in the First Quarter of 2011

Austrian imports and exports increased by 22% in the first three month of the year. In March, trade volume amounted to more than € 11bn in both directions.

June 7, 2011

OeKB Facilitates Austro-Russian Projects

A recently signed agreement will increase the cooperation between OeKB and Russian Vnesheconombank.

May 27, 2011

Exports on Track for New Record

New highs of Austrian exports are expected in 2011 and 2012. The growth rate was 24.2% in the first two months of the year.

May 26, 2011

Romania Offers Export Opportunities for Austria's Environment Industry

18 top Austrian companies active in the areas of environmental technology and renewable energies are present in Bucharest.

May 12, 2011

Austria's Energy Industry Considers the U.S. as a Promising Market

The U.S. market offers opportunities for Austrian technology in solar systems, pellet stoves, biogas, biomass and software to control wind turbines

May 10, 2011

Strong Rise in Foreign Trade Figures

January to February 2011: Austrian imports increased by 26%, exports rose by 24%.

May 9, 2011

Austria's Export Are Heading for Another Record Year

Exports grew by 24% to € 18bn in the first two months of 2011, continuing to be a crucial pillar of the Austrian economy.

May 7, 2011

Austria's Current Account: Net Income 2.7% of the GDP

Austria's current account achieved a surplus of € 7.8bn or 2.7% of the GDP in 2010. The domestic economy was thereby able to prove its high competitiveness.

May 5, 2011

Capital Transfers Still Below Pre-Crisis Level

Austria's financial transactions with foreign countries continue to be influenced by the aftermath of the crisis: investment in foreign securities has increased only slightly (€ 6.4 bn).

May 5, 2011

Leitl: "Austria was the Largest Investor in Turkey in 2010"

WKÖ President Leitl pointed to the intense economic links between the two countries during the state visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gül to Austria.

May 4, 2011

Sharp Drop in Exports to Japan is Expected

Exports are expected to return to a normal level only by 2012. Renewable energy technologies could be particularly important.

May 3, 2011

Mixed Results for Agricultural Output

2009/10: Good supply with food and animal feed of crops - 7.6% of foreign trade volume is made by agricultural products. Production of wine and cereals decreases, oil seeds, fruits and vegetables rises.

April 30, 2011

Austria's Soybean Production is Booming

According to the Ministry for the Environment, the area of domestic soybean planting and the harvest have increased by one third in 2010.

April 29, 2011

WKÖ Considers Nevada as Optimal Trading Partner

Nevada is diversifying towards renewable energies: huge opportunities for Austrian companies are expected.

April 29, 2011

Austria´s Economy Performed Better than EU-average During Crisis

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) has just published a study, which quantifies trade-related transmission mechanisms of the global drop in investment demand and output to recession in Austria.

April 28, 2011

Eastern Europe as Growing Market for Austrian Wine Exports

Around 80% of the Austrian wine exports are going to Germany. However, growth rates in Russia and Poland are surprisingly high.

April 23, 2011

Texas Offers Opportunities for Austria's Energy Industry

Texas imports goods for US$ 614m from Austria. There are prospects for growth in wind and solar energy above all other areas.

April 22, 2011

WKÖ on Mongolia: "A Country with Development Potential"

The Austrian Economic Chamber sees a huge trade and investment potential for the domestic economy in the sparsely populated country.

April 21, 2011

Sales Increase of 7.4% for Intersport

Sales of Intersport Austria-group grew by 7.4% to € 667.7m (2008/2009: € 622m) in the financial year 2009/2010.

April 20, 2011

Austria's trade as a Job Creation Engine

77,000 jobs were created by trades and crafts in the last eight years. The manufacturing industry lost 17,000.

April 14, 2011

Resch &Frisch - Expands to Italy

The baked goods producer was able to increase its sales in 2010 again. The market is to be expanded to the south.

April 13, 2011

Austrian Construction Industry Aims at the Czech Republic

Despite the current downturn in the Czech construction market, the Economic Chamber presently recommends making use of the traditionally good relations with the Czech Republic.

April 13, 2011

Leitl: Export Year 2011 Started in a Fulminant Way

Exports increased in January by 26%; the target for the full year is to achieve the pre-crisis year’s record export volume of € 117bn.

April 9, 2011

Environmental Technology Industry in the Czech Republic Holds Hopes for Austrian Companies

The neighboring country, despite making progress, continues to lag behind in energy efficiency and environmental technology.

April 9, 2011

Central Asia as a Region of the Future for the Austrian Export Business

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) sees excellent delivery and investment opportunities for the domestic economy in Central Asia.

April 6, 2011

Forecast: Austria's Economic Growth in 2011 at 2.5%

The upswing in the first half year continues mainly due to strongly growing exports. A flattening of growth is expected after this.

April 2, 2011

Southeastern Europe as a Region of Hope for Austria

Great interest of Austrian companies at the Austria Foreign Trade Forum on Export and Investment Opportunities in Southeastern Europe

April 2, 2011

Mitterlehner: New Modernization Partnership Concluded with Russia

Minister of Economy: Investment opportunities for companies boost exports to Russia: innovations and new technologies as growth drivers.

April 1, 2011

AWO: "Great Italian Interest in Austrian Steel Know-How"

Foreign Trade Austria (Außenwirtschaft Österreich, AWO), sees good opportunities for domestic firms in Italy's steel industry.

March 31, 2011

Mixed Results for Crafts and Business Enterprises

Austria's business establishments are struggling especially with strong price pressures. Growth is moderate.

March 30, 2011

Mitterlehner Intends to Expand Economic Relations with Malaysia

A work meeting was held in Vienna with the Malaysian counterpart. New export opportunities exist primarily through eco-innovation.

March 30, 2011

Bene Intensifies Activities in Asia and Australia

The Austrian office furniture manufacturer expands foreign operations. International sales are now conducted by Søren Trampedach.

March 30, 2011

Economic Growth at 3.5% in the First Months of 2011

The Austrian economy is expanding relatively strongly, driven by the robust external demand.

March 26, 2011 · Updated: March 27, 2011; 00:00