The breakdown shows that the deficit on trade in goods shrank by EUR932 million to EUR4.6 billion, while the surplus on services fell by EUR225 million to EUR2.1 billion.
In terms of services, the IT&C sector saw the highest surplus, of EUR1.2 billion in January-February 2026, close to the level recorded in January-February 2025, followed by the transport sector with a slightly higher surplus of EUR1.01 billion. The deficit in the tourism-travel sector widened to EUR714 million in January-February 2026.
The primary income balance, which includes compensation of employees, investment income (direct investment, portfolio investment, other investment) and other primary income (taxes, subsidies), recorded a deficit of EUR645 million in January-February 2026, EUR250 million more than in the year-ago period.
The secondary income balance, which includes current private transfers and transfers of the general government, recorded a deficit of EUR86 million in January-February 2026, EUR9 million higher than in January-February 2025.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) stood at EUR1.12 billion in January-February 2026, compared with EUR854 million in January-February 2025. Of the overall FDI, equity stakes (including estimated net reinvestment of earnings) amounted to EUR1.18 billion, while intra-group lending reached a net negative value of EUR52 million, central bank data also show.
Romania’s total external debt (public and private) stood at EUR229.9 billion in January-February 2026, higher by EUR1.5 billion than at the end of 2025, central bank data also show on April 15.
Long-term external debt stood at EUR182.5 billion on February 28, 2026, up 1.2% compared with December 31, 2025. Short-term external debt stood at EUR47.7 billion on February 28. 2026, down 1.5%.
Long-term external debt service ratio stood at 12.9% in January-February 2026 compared with 18.4% in 2025. On February 28, 2026, goods and services import cover stood at 6.7 months, compared with 6 months on December 31, 2025.
On February 28, 2026, the ratio of the National Bank of Romania’s foreign exchange reserves to short-term external debt by remaining maturity stood at 107.3%, compared with 104.4% on December 31, 2025.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)