FX.co ★ Austria Trade Gap Hits 6-Month High

Austria’s trade deficit widened to EUR 635.5 million in May 2026, up from EUR 476 million in the same month a year earlier. This was the largest deficit since December 2025, as import growth outpaced that of exports.

Total imports increased by 1.1% year-on-year to EUR 16.3 billion. This was primarily driven by stronger demand from extra-EU countries, where imports rose 3.4%, while imports from intra-EU partners slipped by 0.1%. By category, import growth was led by fuels and energy (+34.4%), processed goods (+4.7%), and machinery and vehicles (+4.4%), more than offsetting a decline in manufactured goods (-1.6%).

Exports edged up 0.2% to EUR 15.7 billion. Shipments to extra-EU countries rose 1.8%, while exports to intra-EU countries fell 0.5%. The strongest export growth was recorded in chemical products (+11.9%) and other goods (+12.5%), whereas exports of machinery and vehicles decreased by 3.2%.