The trade balance posted a deficit of EUR649 million in January to February, compared with EUR331 in the year-earlier period. In the same time, the current transfers surplus decreased to EUR365 million, from EUR543 million in the first two months of 2011.
Foreign direct investments, estimated at EUR253 million, covered 38.2% of the current account gap. In January-February 2011, FDI stood at EUR325 million, the central bank data showed.
Romania’s total external debt fell to EUR98 billion in February from EUR98.4 billion at the end of 2011. The medium and long-term debt stood at EUR75.5 billion, while the short-term debt was EUR22.5 billion.
In 2011, Romania’s current account deficit widened to EUR5.68 billion, from a gap of EUR5.52 billion a year earlier.