Austria Returns to Trade Surplus in February

Austria recorded a trade surplus of €0.34 billion in February 2026, reversing a €0.28 billion deficit from the same month last year. This marks the country’s first trade surplus since October 2024, driven by a 2.0% rise in exports to €16.16 billion. Growth was led by increased sales of machinery and vehicles, processed goods, and chemical products. Intra-EU exports surged by 4.3%, particularly to Germany, Austria’s top trading partner, while extra-EU exports declined by 2.5%. Meanwhile, imports fell by 1.9% to €15.82 billion, partly due to reduced purchases of chemical products and processed goods. Intra-EU imports dropped by 3.4%, while imports from non-EU countries increased by 1.1%.

Austria's trade deficit narrowed to EUR 0.07 billion in January 2026 from EUR 0.20 billion in the same month a year earlier, as imports fell more than exports. Imports declined 3.0% year-on-year to EUR 15.13 billion, with purchases down from both EU countries (-4.2%) and non-EU countries (-0.7%). Fuel and energy imports saw the largest drop, plunging nearly a third due to lower crude oil and petroleum product purchases. Meanwhile, exports fell a softer 2.2% to EUR 15.06 billion, amid lower shipments to both EU countries (-1.1%) and non-EU countries (-4.4%). The sharpest declines were in chemical products (-7.1%) and processed goods (-4.8%).

Austria's trade deficit widened to €1.30 billion in December 2025 from €0.83 billion a year earlier, marking the largest monthly shortfall of the year, as imports rose 13.1% and exports increased 6.2%. For the full year, the trade balance shifted to a deficit of €6.58 billion from a surplus of €2.19 billion in 2024, with imports up 4.1% to €196.72 billion and exports down 0.5% to €190.14 billion. Intra-EU trade remained largely balanced, with imports of €128.73 billion (+2.6%) and exports of €128.95 billion (+0.6%), leaving a €0.22 billion surplus, down from €2.68 billion. Trade with non-EU countries showed a deficit of €6.80 billion, as imports climbed 7.1% to €67.99 billion and exports fell 2.9% to €61.19 billion. Germany remained Austria’s top partner, the US generated the largest surplus, and China the largest deficit. By product, machinery and vehicles dominated trade.