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Foreign trade figures of Austria

Foreign Trade in Figures

The Austrian economy is heavily dependent on foreign trade, which accounts for 117% of GDP (World Bank, latest data available). According to data from Statistics Austria, machinery and vehicles led Austrian exports in 2023, accounting for 37.5% of total outbound trade, with an 8.2% increase to EUR 75.22 billion. Other major export categories included manufactured goods (EUR 39.24 bn, −8.3%), chemical products (EUR 34.55 bn, +18.8%), and other manufactured goods (EUR 19.85 bn, −2.3%), which collectively made up 84.2% of exports. On the import side, machinery and vehicles held a 34.5% share, rising by 5.6% to EUR 69.55 bn. The largest decline was in fuels and energy, which fell by 32.7% to EUR 18.25 bn.

Germany is by far Austria’s privileged partner for both imports and exports. In 2023, Austrian exports to Germany represented 29.2% of the total, while imports accounted for 31.7%. The U.S. (7.4%), Italy (6.2%), and Switzerland (5%) were among the main export destinations, whereas for imports China was the second main origin (7.5%), followed by Italy (6.4%) and Switzerland (5.1% - Statistics Austria, latest data available). The manufacturing industry is well integrated into Germany’s value chain. Austria remains therefore dependent on the economic conjuncture in Germany and in other central and eastern European countries. Overall, the EU accounted for 68.4% of exports and 64.6% of imports in 2023.

According to Statistics Austria, the total value of goods imports in 2023 was EUR 201.64 bn, down 6.3% from the previous year. Goods exports rose by 3% to EUR 200.55 bn. The trade deficit in goods narrowed to EUR 1.09 bn, compared to EUR 20.59 bn in 2022. Concerning services, the country is a net exporter: in 2023, exports of services amounted to USD 90.2 billion while imports stood at USD 80.6 billion (WTO). With the exception of 2022,  Austria’s external trade balance has invariably been in surplus since 1999: in 2023, the external balance of goods and services stood at 2.1% of GDP (World Bank). From January to September 2024, preliminary data from Statistics Austria show that goods imports totalled EUR 140.31 bn, while exports reached EUR 143.79 bn. Compared to the same period in the previous year, imports fell by 9.5% and exports by 4.1%. The trade balance showed a surplus of EUR 3.48 bn, a significant improvement from the EUR 5.08 bn deficit recorded during the same period the previous year.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 184,758172,449219,520233,519224,543
Exports of Goods (million USD) 178,670169,418202,806211,929223,549
Imports of Services (million USD) 65,83255,68566,79574,32380,670
Exports of Services (million USD) 76,63964,99070,38983,18390,217

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 107.9107.9100.2111.2120.1
Trade Balance (million USD) 1,4014,8933,902-336-800
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) 13,27115,74612,9982,5086,753
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 5.32.1-9.213.75.7
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 5.24.0-10.79.611.1
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 52.552.148.655.359.3
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 55.555.851.655.960.8

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20242025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)2028 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) -1.03.43.22.72.1
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) -0.63.63.02.62.1

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Austria is a member of the following international economic organisations: European Union, ICC, Schengen Agreement, IMF, G-9, WTO, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Austria click here. International organisation membership of Austria is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by Austria can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
Germany 29.0%
United States 7.2%
Italy 6.1%
Switzerland 5.2%
Belgium 3.8%
See More Countries 48.7%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
Germany 31.4%
China 7.5%
Italy 6.4%
Switzerland 5.7%
Czech Republic 4.1%
See More Countries 44.9%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

216.2 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic...Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera and other blood fractions and immunological products, whether or not modified or obtained by means of biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excl. yeasts) and similar products 4.7%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 4.2%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 3.2%
Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom[s...Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom[s] only 2.7%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s. 2.4%
See More Products 82.9%
219.1 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 5.3%
Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic...Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera and other blood fractions and immunological products, whether or not modified or obtained by means of biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excl. yeasts) and similar products 2.8%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s. 2.6%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 2.6%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 2.5%
See More Products 84.1%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: February 2025