Austrian exports are up, says Vöm
Austrian dairy exports rose by €357 million to reach the previous high of €1.7 billion (up 26.2%), while imports increased by €229 million to €1.07 billion (up 27.2%). This resulted in a 25% increase in the positive foreign trade balance of €643 million.
“With its quality strategy, the Austrian dairy industry was able to grow even in times of rising prices on the highly competitive export markets,” says the president of the Association of Austrian Milk Processors (Vöm), Helmut Petschar, on the figures from Statistics Austria for 022. He finds the figures show a very positive development. “With these high values, exports make a significant contribution to securing the domestic dairy industry,” he adds.
The most important foreign trade product is still cheese. Here, with a volume of 181,000 tons (up 6.8%), an export value of €901 million (up 24.5%) was achieved, while the stagnating import volume of 132,000 tons amounted to €634 million (up 19.7%).
Exports of liquid milk yielded €376 million (plus 26.2%), while fermented products (yogurt etc) saw an increase to €205 million (plus 29.4%).
There was a significant import surplus for butter, with 4,600 tons exported and 19,700 tons imported.
The most important export country is Germany with a share of 51%, followed by Italy, the Netherlands and Greece. The main importing country is also Germany, with a share of 59%, followed by Italy, the Netherlands and Greece.
The VÖM president emphasises that milk exports are based on the highest Austrian quality and sustainability standards, such as freedom from genetic engineering, the best climate protection values in the EU or the highest organic proportions, standards that are often lacking in imports.