Romania Trade Deficit Narrows in August

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 3.075 billion in April 2026 from EUR 3.137 billion in the corresponding month a year earlier. Exports rose 4.3% year-on-year to EUR 8.203 billion, supported by stronger shipments to both EU (2.8%) and non-EU markets (8.1%). Meanwhile, imports increased 2.5% to EUR 11.279 billion, driven by higher purchases from the EU (2.1%) and non-EU countries (3.4%). In the first four months of 2026, the trade deficit stood at EUR 10.815 billion, narrowing from EUR 11.633 billion in the same period last year. Over this period, exports rose 1.9% to EUR 32.017 billion, supported by higher sales of transport equipment (1.9%), manufactured goods (4.7%), food and live animals (6.9%), and chemicals and related products (4.6%). In contrast, imports fell 0.5% to EUR 42.833 billion, weighed by lower purchases of manufactured goods (-1.9%), manufactured articles (-3.3%), chemicals and related products (-1.7%), and mineral fuels, lubricants and related (-2.1%).

Romania’s trade deficit widened to EUR 2.927 billion in March 2026, compared with EUR 2.856 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports increased 6.2% year-on-year to a record high of EUR 8.959 billion, supported by stronger shipments to both EU (8.1%) and non-EU (1.4%) countries. Meanwhile, imports rose 5.3% to EUR 11.885 billion, driven by an 8.1% increase in arrivals from EU countries, while imports from non-EU countries fell 2.6%. In the first quarter of the year, the trade deficit reached EUR 7.704 billion. Exports grew 1.1% to EUR 23.812 billion, buoyed by higher sales of machinery and transport equipment (2.9%) and manufactured goods classified mainly by raw materials (3.4%). In contrast, imports fell 1.7% to EUR 31.517, weighed down by lower purchases of miscellaneous manufactured articles (-3%), manufactured goods classified mainly by raw materials (-3.1%), and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (-14.2%).

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 2.41 billion in February 2026 from EUR 2.89 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 1.1% year-on-year to EUR 7.97 billion, supported by higher shipments to EU countries (4.9%), which offset a decline in non-EU markets (-7.6%). Meanwhile, imports fell 3.6% to EUR 10.38 billion, dragged by lower purchases from non-EU countries (-18.1%), while EU imports posted a modest increase (1.8%). In the January-February period, the trade shortfall narrowed to EUR 4.76 billion from EUR 5.64 billion a year earlier. Exports declined 1.7% to EUR 14.87 billion, weighed down by weaker sales of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (-14.7%), chemicals and related products (-8.8%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (-10.1%). Imports also fell 5.5% to EUR 19.63 billion, reflecting reduced purchases of food and live animals (-3.9%), chemicals and related products (-6.6%), and manufactured goods (-7%).