Austria Economy Overview
Austria is ranked as the world’s 26th largest economy in terms of GDP, with annual exports of $176 billion and imports of $179 billion. This translates to a negative trade balance of -$3.46 billion.
The landlocked country in central Europe is ranked #30 in the world for total exports and #29 for total imports.
Germany is Austria’s biggest trade partner by far for both exports and imports. The United States is its 2nd biggest export partner, while Italy is its next biggest import partner.
In this guide, we give you an overview of Austria’s economy, including the country’s primary imports and exports.
Austria’s Top Exports
Here is a breakdown of the most important products exported by Austria, both commodities and other notable exports.
Commodity Exports
- Refined petroleum – $1.88 billion
- Sawn wood – $1.63 billion
- Gold – $776 million
- Particleboard – $761 million
- Petroleum gas – $709 million
If you’re interested in trading some of these commodities, you can jump to our list of recommended regulated brokers in at the end of the page.
Other Notable Exports
- Cars – $7.95 billion
- Packaged Medicaments – $5.98 billion
- Vehicle Parts – $5.53 billion
- Blood, antisera, vaccines, toxins, and cultures – $3.92 billion
- Bottled water – $2.68 billion
- Spark-ignition engines – $2.32 billion
The top export destinations of Austria are Germany ($50.9 billion), the United States ($12.7 billion), Italy ($11.3 billion), Switzerland ($8.3 billion), and France ($7.48 billion).
Austria’s Top Imports
Here is a breakdown of the most important products imported by Austria, both commodities and other notable imports.
Commodity Imports
- Refined petroleum – $4.41 billion
- Crude petroleum – $4.02 billion
- Gold – $1.7 billion
- Raw aluminum – $1.13 billion
- Rough wood – $763 million
Other Notable Imports
- Cars – $9.79 billion
- Vehicle parts – $5.36 billion
- Packaged Medicaments – $3.55 billion
- Blood, antisera, vaccines, toxins, and cultures – $2.94 billion
- Broadcasting equipment – $2.91 billion
GDP of Austria
The GDP of Austria is $455 billion which results in a GDP per capita of $51,462. Between 2013 and 2018, Austria’s GDP grew by 5.81%. According to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), the country is the world’s 11th most complex economy.
The central European landlocked country is bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy.

Details on Austria’s Imports/Exports
Petroleum Gas
Exports of petroleum gas account for 0.4% of Austria’s annual export totals. The country has a less than 1% market share of a global export trade that is worth $127 billion annually.
Hungary is the primary destination for Austrian petroleum gas exports. It imports just over 65% of Austria’s total annual exports of this product.
Refined Petroleum
Virtually all of Austria’s refined petroleum exports are destined for European destinations. Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, and Czechia are the main importers of refined petroleum from Austria.
The value of Austria’s refined petroleum exports equate to a market share of 0.25% of an annual global market worth $753 billion.
Raw Aluminum
The value of Austria’s raw aluminum exports represents 0.25% of the nation’s annual export output. Austria has a 0.71% share of the global raw aluminum export market that is worth $61.1 billion annually.
Gold
Neighbouring Germany is the main importer of Austria’s gold exports and accounts for 52.6% of annual shipments, followed by Czechia who imports 17.8% of the $776 million total.
Austria’s annual gold imports of $1.7 billion is substantially more than its exports of this precious metal.
Wheat
The worldwide annual value of wheat shipments is $45.1 billion. Austria is not among the top ten wheat exporters who account for 86.44% of the total. Wheat production in Austria has failed to reach 2 million tons over the last 10 years.
Interesting Facts About Austria
- Austria is one of six EU states who are not a member of NATO.
- The Austrian Eisriesenwelt Caves, often known as “the world of the ice giants,” is the largest accessible ice cave system in the world.
- Austria’s national flag is among the oldest national banners in the world. Back in 1191, When Duke Leopold V of Austria’s tunic became blood-spattered in 1191, a white band was revealed when he removed his wide sash. The red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner and the national emblem.
Interested in Trading Commodities?
Interested in trading random length lumber, gold, gasoline, and other important Austrian commodities? Start your research with reviews of these regulated brokers available in .
| Broker | Details | Sign up |
|---|---|---|
![]() | User friendly platform and leading risk management tools. | Open Account Now Plus500 Review |
| Social trading to copy leading traders. | Open Account Now eToro Review 61% of retail CFD accounts lose money. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. |
|
![]() | No minimum deposit mobile platform with stocks and options. | Open Account Now Robinhood Review |
![]() | Options contracts trading fees from $2.09 on thousands of global stocks. | Open Account Now |
Data last reviewed:
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 50.00%-86.00% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Sources and Further Reading
- All figures are based on OEC 2018 calculations and projections unless otherwise stated.
- Get Austria’s latest national debt figures, including the debt to GDP ratio.
- See our global economic indicator guide to more than 45 other countries.
- Get our full guide to trading commodities.
Also see our guides on stock, CFD, and commodity brokers to find out which online trading platforms are available in .
All currency is reported in US dollars.
Update history
This page was revised 5 times between July 2020 and July 2024.
Reformatted list structures in Commodity Exports, Imports, Notable Exports/Imports, and Sources sections, removed one historical fact about Austria's flag, and updated broker comparison table reference.
Added introductory overview, restructured heading hierarchy, integrated broker references throughout, corrected "export economy" to "economy," and added commodities trading prompt.
Added new content covering Austria's economy overview, top commodity imports and exports with market data, detailed analysis of five key commodities, and interesting facts about the country.
Added call-to-action alert before the "Austria's Other Notable Exports" section.
Added economic overview of Austria with trade statistics, commodity breakdowns, export destinations, and expanded sections on specific products like petroleum, aluminum, gold, and wheat with market share data.
The Commodity Briefing
The stories behind the prices. Surprising, useful, occasionally weird - in your inbox every weekday.
- Price moves
- Supply shocks
- Macro drivers
Before you go
Get The Commodity Briefing - free, 2 minutes.


