Romania's trade deficit soars by more than 25% in Q1 2025

Business Forum
Romania's trade balance deficit (FOB/CIF) reached €8.45 billion in Q1 2025, marking a 26.9% increase (€1.79 billion) compared to the same period of last year, according to data released on Monday by the National Institute of Statistics.

In March 2025, FOB exports totalled €8.4 billion, while CIF imports amounted to €11.3 billion, resulting in a deficit of €2.8 billion.

Compared to March 2024, exports in March 2025 increased by 6.3%, and imports by 8%.

Furthermore, during the period from 1 January to 31 March 2025, FOB exports totalled €23.6 billion (+2.7%), while CIF imports were €32 billion (+8.1%).

Significant shares in the structure of exports and imports are held by the following product groups: machinery and transport equipment (46.2% for exports and 35.2% for imports) and other manufactured goods (27.9% for exports and 27.7% for imports).

According to INS data, the value of intra-EU27 trade in goods in the first three months of this year was €16.7 billion for dispatches and €23.1 billion for arrivals, representing 70.8% of total exports and 72.1% of total imports.

At the same time, the value of extra-EU27 trade in goods was €6.8 billion for exports and €8.9 billion for imports, equivalent to 29.2% of total exports and 27.9% of total imports.

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