The primary income balance, which covers funds from investment and employment, posted a deficit of EUR2.165 billion in the first six months, narrowing from a deficit of EUR2.727 billion in the same period last year, while the goods and services balance recorded a deficit of EUR1.474 billion, widening from a deficit EUR372 million in January-June 2016.
The secondary income balance posted a surplus of EUR894 million in the first six months, from a surplus of EUR1.141 billion in the same period last year.
Foreign direct investment stood at EUR1.841 billion in the first six months, of which equity stakes (including estimated net reinvestment of earnings) amounted to EUR2.179 billion, while net intra-group lending stood at minus EUR338 million, the data showed.
Romania’s total external debt grew by EUR1.889 billion from end-December 2016, standing at EUR94.266 billion at the end of June. Long-term debt stood at EUR69.401 billion, accounting for 73.6% of total external debt.