Foreign trade: “Glass two-thirds full”

Yesterday, Wednesday, Chamber of Commerce President Harald Mahrer painted a positive picture of domestic foreign trade. The cautiously positive expectations of the previous year had already brightened up again significantly in the autumn. “The glass with which we are starting the year 2023 is noticeably two-thirds full,” said Mahrer. He hopes that the mark of 200 billion euros in goods exports can be cracked this year. This would be a “sensational effect”.

Last year, exports of goods amounted to 192 billion euros. If you include services, it was 269 billion euros. Final figures will be available at the end of February. Those that Mahrer presented yesterday are not yet adjusted for inflation and currency. 63,200 domestic companies are active on the international markets.

Corona restrictions, the withdrawal from Russia, the cracked supply chains, the lack of workers and above all the energy prices would have occupied the companies in the previous year.

This year, companies with foreign commitments are expecting increasing sales. According to a survey by the interest group, 41 percent see an increase in sales, 28 percent see stagnating capacity utilization and 27 percent see an increasing number of employees.

New offices in Asia and Africa

Investments in WK offices in Uzbekistan and Ivory Coast are planned for this year. A temporary branch will also be opened in Osaka, Japan, due to Expo 2025. Southeast Asia and Africa are growth markets. Germany and Italy remain the most important export partners for Austria.