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, registering the smallest gap since February 2024, even as both exports and imports contracted.
Exports fell 4.7% year-on-year to EUR 6.903 billion, pressured by weaker deliveries to both EU markets (-1.8%) and non-EU destinations (-11.7%). By product group, export declines were recorded in 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%).
Imports shrank at a faster pace, down 7.7% to EUR 9.229 billion, reflecting lower purchases from both EU partners (-3.9%) and non-EU suppliers (-16.1%). On the import side, volumes decreased for 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%).
