FIW Annual Report 2025

In the past calendar year, Austrian exports of goods are expected to have fallen by 2.9 percent and imports by 4.9 percent. The balance of trade in goods has improved and is likely to achieve a surplus for the first time since 2007. FIW is forecasting price-adjusted export growth of 1.4 and 2.3 percent for 2025 and 2026, although downside risks such as the necessary budget consolidation in Europe and the protectionist trade policy of the new president of the USA predominate. In addition to the current international framework conditions, the expert team presents a short-term forecast of Austria's foreign trade development for the years 2025 and 2026, as well as medium-term trends that could have a lasting impact on global economic activity and the rules-based global trading system. The discussion centres on the possible consequences of Donald Trump's presidency for the rules-based global trading system and explores the question of how the EU and other important trading partners could react to policy of the USA.