business
Austrian foreign trade recovered noticeably in the first half of 2021 after heavy losses from the coronavirus pandemic. In Lower Austria, exports even slightly exceeded the pre-crisis level.
Goods worth 11.8 billion euros were exported from Lower Austria in the first half of 2021. That is almost a fifth more than in the first half of 2020. This means that the pre-crisis level was also slightly exceeded – in the first half of 2019, Lower Austria’s goods exports amounted to 11.64 billion euros. Along with Upper Austria and Styria, Lower Austria is one of the strongest export regions in Austria.
Every fourth job is related to export
Every fourth job in Lower Austria and every second euro generated is related to the export economy, emphasized Jochen Danninger (ÖVP), State Minister for Economic Affairs and Tourism (ÖVP) on Monday. “Lower Austria is now also benefiting from the fact that we have consistently paid attention to a good balance between local and distant markets as part of our export strategy for many years,” said the regional council, because local markets would dominate due to the current situation.
Around 10,000 Lower Austrian companies are currently exporting their goods abroad. The aim is to increase this number further, said Wolfgang Ecker, President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce, “because every additional export company strengthens Lower Austria as a business location”.
Industry plays a particularly important role in this. “Lower Austria’s industrial companies are so successful because they produce for the world market. The corona pandemic is developing differently around the world – and that of course also has an impact on export-oriented companies, “emphasized the President of the Lower Austrian Federation of Industry, Thomas Salzer. However, supply bottlenecks for raw and building materials and the historically high gas and electricity prices would represent a major challenge for the near future. It is all the more important not to be dependent on individual markets when it comes to export trade.