Austria - Industry

The essential industries in Austria are construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food processing, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, energy production, and mining. Austria has favorable conditions for industrial activity, including a very well developed infrastructure , a rich source of raw material, and a skilled, moderately expensive labor force . Industrial output in 2000 (including energy production) grew by an estimated 6.8 percent over the previous year. The biggest growth rate, 11.1 percent, was recorded for capital goods , while production of consumer goods expanded by 2.6 percent.