Styrian exports 2025: Stable despite challenging framework conditions

“The current figures show that Styrian companies are holding their own successfully, while international markets are changing noticeably. Alongside Europe’s strength, new sales markets are gaining in importance. For export-oriented companies, it is therefore becoming even more important to build up strategic markets such as India today, to identify market opportunities in other growth markets at an early stage and seize them quickly, and to continuously further develop their international orientation.”

“Foreign trade is not an add-on for Styria; it is the lifeline of our prosperity—around every second euro of value added is generated in foreign markets. The fact that we will reach exports of 28.2 billion euros in 2025 despite the crisis environment shows the strength of our businesses, for which we— in the interest of competitiveness—urgently need to further improve the framework conditions, especially with regard to labour and energy costs. In order to be able to hold their own in this challenging environment, we offer our businesses a dense support network: from ICS and tailored export consulting through to our globally active Außenwirtschaft Austria network with around 100 offices in 70 countries.”

“Exports are the fuel of our prosperity. We generate half of Styria’s value added in international markets. The domestic economy can therefore only grow if our companies achieve corresponding export successes. Given the difficult national and international framework conditions, the 2025 results are extremely respectable. Our export-oriented businesses have proven to be very resilient despite major challenges, also compared with other federal states. It is particularly pleasing that exports to Germany increased significantly and that we were also able to achieve growth in other markets within the EU. It is therefore important, on the one hand, to view Europe even more strongly as a space of opportunity for our economy and, on the other hand, to consistently develop future markets outside Europe.”

“Styrian industry continues to hold its own in an extremely difficult international environment, but momentum has noticeably slowed. The slight decline in goods exports is not an alarm signal, but a clear indication that geopolitical uncertainties, weaker demand in key markets and high location costs are continuing to put pressure on our export-oriented flagship companies. For industry, it is crucial that policymakers draw the right conclusions. We need to become more agile again, and we can achieve that through lower costs and less bureaucracy at home, as well as a state that reduces the tax and levy burden through structural reforms.”

“The present foreign trade balance shows that our companies are holding their own, but competition is becoming tougher in view of our unit labour costs—here, with an eye to the upcoming collective agreement negotiations, hopefully all parties involved are aware of their responsibility. In addition, sales markets are shifting rapidly—for example towards Japan or Poland—while Germany, as the most important market, is also recording growth. Especially now, Styria needs a clear foreign trade strategy, courage to enter new markets and reliable international trade agreements that reduce tariffs and create fair rules. The Provincial Committee for Foreign Trade supports businesses with practical advice, market checks, training, delegation trips and contacts with partners on the ground—from the first idea through to signing a contract abroad.”