Romania Trade Deficit Narrows in February

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%).

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%).