Romania Trade Deficit Largest in 5 Months

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%).

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%).