Romania Trade Deficit Narrows in August

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 2.326 billion in January 2026 from EUR 2.751 billion in the same month a year earlier, marking the smallest deficit since February 2024, although both exports and imports declined. Exports dropped 4.7% year-on-year to EUR 6.903 billion, weighed down by weaker shipments to both EU (-1.8%) and non-EU countries (-11.7%). By product group, sales fell for mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (-12.9%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (-11.5%), goods classified mainly by raw materials (-3.8%), and machinery and transport equipment (-2.9%). Meanwhile, imports decreased 7.7% to EUR 9.229 billion, reflecting reduced purchases from both EU (-3.9%) and non-EU countries (-16.1%). Imports declined in food and live animals (-16.3%), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (-14.5%), goods classified mainly by raw materials (-12%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (-10.6%), and machinery and transport equipment (-3.9%).

Romania posted a trade deficit of EUR 2.687 billion in December 2025, narrowing from EUR 3.346 billion in the same month of a year earlier, as exports rose while imports fell. Exports grew by 9.4% year-on-year to EUR 7.196 billion, driven by higher shipments to both EU (9.4%) and non-EU countries (9.3%). Meanwhile, imports declined by 0.4% to EUR 9.883 billion, with arrivals decreasing from non-EU countries (-3.5%), while purchases increased from EU countries (0.9%). For the whole year of 2025, the country’s trade shortfall decreased to EUR 32.743 billion from EUR 33.416 billion a year earlier. Exports rose by 4.2% to EUR 96.908 billion, supported by robust sales of machinery and transport equipment (46.6%), manufactured goods classified mainly by raw materials (14.3%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (12.3%). Imports grew at a softer 2.6% to EUR 129.935 billion, driven by higher purchases of machinery and transport equipment (36.8%).

Romania recorded a trade deficit of EUR 2.3 billion in November 2025, narrowing from EUR 2.9 billion in the same month a year earlier. This marked the smallest trade deficit since February 2024, as imports declined more than exports. Imports dropped 5.3% year-on-year to EUR 10.6 billion, weighed down by lower purchases from EU countries (-3.7%) and non-EU countries (-9.5%). Meanwhile, exports fell a softer 0.1% to EUR 8.4 billion, with shipments decreasing to EU countries (-0.5%) but increasing to non-EU countries (0.9%). For the January–November period, the country’s trade shortfall narrowed to EUR 29.8 billion from EUR 30.1 billion a year earlier. Exports grew 3.9% to EUR 89.4 billion, supported by stronger sales of crude materials, inedible, except fuels (22.4%) and animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes (21.9%). Imports rose 2.6% to EUR 119.2 billion, driven by higher purchases of animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes (13.4%).