Romanian wholesale trade grows 2.3% in Q1 2026

Business Forum
Romanian wholesale trade turnover (excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles) increased by 2.3% in the first three months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The official statistics show that between January 1 and March 31, 2026, positive results were recorded in specialised wholesale of other products (+9.2%), wholesale of computer and telecommunications equipment (+9%), wholesale intermediation activities (+8.9%) and wholesale of non-food consumer goods (+5.6%).

Conversely, declines were registered in non-specialised wholesale trade (-10.2%), wholesale of raw agricultural products and live animals (-4%), wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco (-2.8%) and wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies (-0.4%).

In March 2026 alone, wholesale trade turnover grew by 8.6% year-on-year, driven by computer and telecommunications equipment wholesale (+29%), specialised wholesale of other products (+21%), and non-food consumer goods wholesale (+12.7%). Only non-specialised wholesale (-10.6%) and raw agricultural products wholesale (-1.8%) declined.

Month-on-month, wholesale trade increased by 24.3% from February to March 2026, while the seasonally adjusted series showed a 3.3% increase.

RECOMMENDED
Romanias GDP drops 1.7% in Q1 2026
Economy

Romania's GDP drops 1.7% in Q1 2026

Romania's GDP fell by 0.2% in Q1 2026 compared to the previous quarter, according to data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

Romanias trade deficit drops 9.3% in Q1
Economy

Romania's trade deficit drops 9.3% in Q1

Romania's trade deficit fell 9.3% to €7.7 billion in the first three months of 2026, down €792.1 million compared to the same period in 2025, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

Romanias inflation hits 9.87% in March
Economy

Romania's inflation hits 9.87% in March

Romania's annual inflation rate climbed to 9.87% in March from 9.31% in February, driven by an 11.05% increase in services, 10.89% rise in non-food goods, and 7.67% growth in food prices, according to data published by the National Statistics Institute (INS).

Romania retail sales plunge 9.1% in January 2026
Economy

Romania retail sales plunge 9.1% in January 2026

Romania's retail sales volume (excluding automotive and motorcycle trade) dropped 9.1% year-on-year in January 2026 in gross terms, and 6.5% when adjusted for working days and seasonality, according to data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

Romanias economy grows 0.7% in 2025
Economy

Romania's economy grows 0.7% in 2025

Romania's economy grew 0.7% in real terms in 2025 compared to 2024, though GDP fell 1.9% in Q4 compared to the previous quarter, according to provisional data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

Romanias trade deficit drops 2% in 2025
Economy

Romania's trade deficit drops 2% in 2025

Romania's trade deficit decreased by €673 million to €32.7 billion in 2025, representing a 2% improvement compared to 2024, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

RECOMMENDED FROM THE HOME PAGE
Electrica secures grid permits for 700 MWh of storage
Energy

Electrica secures grid permits for 700 MWh of storage

Energy company Electrica informs investors and the capital market that it has obtained the technical grid connection permits (ATR) for 17 new battery energy storage projects (BESS), with a total capacity of approximately 700 MWh.

Energy

Romanian grid operator to support peak power consumption during heatwave

Romania's national electricity transmission network operator, Transelectrica, has halted scheduled maintenance shutdowns to ensure the grid operates at maximum capacity during an ongoing extreme heatwave. The preventive measures aim to mitigate operational risks associated with severe weather conditions.