Austria's Market Position in East Central Europe

In 1992 Austria's exports to Eastern Europe rose by 7 percent, those to East Central Europe by 17 percent. This expansion in exports, even though slightly slower than in 1991, helped to boost sales abroad in 1992. After substantial gains in the years 1990 and 1991, Austria's export sector lost market shares in East Central Europe in 1992. These losses might be due to the fact that the EFTA concluded free trade agreements with these countries later than the EC. The stock of Austria's direct investments in the East is estimated at some AS 15 billion.