Export balance for Styria in the first half of 2025

Exports: Styria remains stable despite nationwide decline

Styria’s export economy recorded a decline of 2.8% to EUR 14.1 billion in the first half of 2025. This represents a slight improvement compared to last year’s decline of 5.1%. In the nationwide comparison, our federal state ranks 4th and is also in line with the Austrian average. Burgenland was particularly hard hit, with a decline of 4.4%, while Carinthia was the only federal state to achieve export growth of +2.1%. With an unchanged share of 15.0% of Austria’s total exports, Styria maintains its position behind Upper Austria (25.4%), Vienna (15.4%), and Lower Austria (15.1%). The trade balance remains positive: export volume exceeded imports by +EUR 3.72 billion, securing second place after Upper Austria (+EUR 5.87 billion).

Imports: Regional differences shape the development

While Austria’s imports rose by +3.6%, Styrian imports remained nearly stable at −0.1%. Tyrol (+15.8% or +EUR 1.11 billion) and Vienna (+12.5% or +EUR 2.83 billion) recorded significant import increases, while Burgenland (−3.8% or −EUR 0.06 billion) and Upper Austria (−3.5% or −EUR 0.66 billion) had to accept declines.

Styria’s top 3 export markets in H1 2025:

1. Germany (+2.2% to EUR 3.81 billion)
2. USA (+2.1% to EUR 1.96 billion)
3. Italy (−1.6% to EUR 906 million)

Although the decline in exports to China can be attributed to the vehicles and vehicle parts sector, the country remains an important export partner in fourth position (−44% to EUR 4.5 million), closely followed by Switzerland (−8% to EUR 4.4 million).

USA remains an important partner

Despite the challenging geopolitical situation, the USA remains an important export partner for Styria. With an export potential of EUR 10.2 billion by 2030, the country offers the greatest export opportunities for entrepreneurs.

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Styria’s top goods exports in H1 2025:

In terms of products, a decline can be observed in the “Iron and steel products” category (−11.1% to EUR 1 billion), “Iron & steel” (−8.6% to EUR 8.6 million), as well as “Paper and paperboard, articles of paper pulp, paper/paperboard” (−6.5% to EUR 8 million).

On a positive note, export growth was recorded in “Pharmaceutical products” (+24.6% to EUR 4.5 million), “Wood and wood products, charcoal” (+10.9% to EUR 4.1 million), and “Plastics and articles thereof” (+6.7% to EUR 3.4 million).

The list of Styria’s most important export goods continues to be led by “Tractors, motor vehicles, tractors, motorcycles” (at EUR 2.9 billion), “Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, appliances & mechanical devices” (at EUR 2.1 billion), and “Electrical machinery, appliances, electrical equipment” (at EUR 1.3 billion).