Romanian Industrial Output Falls at Softer Pace

Industrial production in Romania fell by 1.5% year-on-year in February 2026, slowing from a downwardly revised 3.5% drop in the previous month, which had marked a ten-month low. Industrial output declined at a softer pace in the manufacturing sector (-2.4% vs -6.0% in January), with notable increases seen in the manufacture of food products, beverages, paper and paper products, chemicals and chemical products, computer, electronic, and optical products, and other transport equipment. Meanwhile, activity dropped further in mining and quarrying (-3.1% vs -1.6%), driven by lower output in metal ores, coal and lignite, and crude petroleum and natural gas. Additionally, growth in electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply moderated to 4.4% from 9.8% in the previous month. On a monthly basis, industrial output fell by 0.4% in February, easing from an eighteen-month low of a 3.0% loss in the preceding period.

Industrial production in Romania fell 3.8% year-on-year in January 2026, reversing a five-month high of 1.7% in the previous month. This marked the sharpest drop in industrial activity since March 2025, as output declined in manufacturing (-6.0% vs 1.1% in December 2025), particularly in the manufacture of food products, beverages, tanning and dressing of leather, paper and paper products, other non-metallic mineral products, fabricated metal products, electrical equipment, and other transport equipment. At the same time, activity in the mining and quarrying sector dropped (-1.4% vs 2.9%), driven by lower output in metal ores and other mining and quarrying, along with steeper falls in coal and lignite and crude petroleum and natural gas. In contrast, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply rose faster (7.9% vs 2.8%). On a monthly basis, industrial output decreased 3.3% in January, marking a twenty-month low, following a 0.8% rise in December 2025.

Industrial production in Romania rose by 1.6% year-on-year in December 2025, rebounding from a downwardly revised 0.4% decline in the previous month. The latest figure marked the strongest growth in industrial activity since July, driven by output increases across all sectors. Production in mining and quarrying increased to 2.9% from 0.3% in November, driven by higher output of metal ores and other mining and quarrying. Additionally, activity in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply rose further (2.8% vs 1.4%) while manufacturing production recovered (1.1% vs -1%), with robust output for computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment, and other transport equipment. On a monthly basis, industrial activity increased by 0.8% in December, recovering from a downwardly revised 0.6% fall in the preceding period.