Austria's Steel Industry and Rail Freight Transport: Geopolitical Factors, Transformation and Future Prospects

The study examines the Austrian iron and steel industry with regard to geopolitical risks, trade policy, energy costs, decarbonisation targets and technological change. Current challenges, such as the ongoing energy transition and increased international competition – particularly from Asia – are highlighted. Finally, possible solutions, including the development of CO₂-neutral production technologies, and their impact on rail freight transport will be discussed. Decarbonisation and technological change are the biggest medium-term challenges facing the steel industry. These will bring about structural changes and have the potential to permanently alter trade flows. In contrast, geopolitical tensions and trade conflicts tend to have a short-term impact. However, dependence on imports and the associated increase in demand for rail transport are coming into focus in view of the depletion of domestic ore deposits. Looking to the future, digitalisation, in particular artificial intelligence, is becoming increasingly relevant in order to increase technical efficiency and energy optimisation in the steel industry.