Austria’s foreign trade saw clear declines last year. Imports decreased by 6.7% to 189.26 billion euros, while exports dropped by 4.9% to 191 billion euros, according to preliminary figures from Statistics Austria released on Friday. This resulted in a trade surplus of 1.74 billion euros. In 2023, there was still a deficit of 2.02 billion euros. For the first time since 2007, the export value exceeded that of imports.

“The ongoing weakness in the European economy is affecting Austria’s foreign trade,” commented Tobias Thomas, head of Statistics Austria. The most important trading partner was once again Germany, followed by the USA and Italy.