The international exchange of goods generated a deficit of EUR4.1 billion in the first two months of 2023, lower by EUR130 million versus the same period of 2022, the same data show.
The services balance recorded a surplus of EUR1.9 billion in January-February 2023, higher by EUR641 million than in the first two months of 2022, with the largest surplus coming from the telecommunications, computer and information services, in the amount of EUR845 million. The transport segment generated a surplus of EUR791 million. Instead, the tourism-travel segment saw a deficit of EUR285 million in January-February 2023, lower than EUR510 million reported in the same period of 2022.
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 EUR461 million in January-February 2023, higher by EUR206 million than in the year-earlier period.
The secondary income balance, which includes current private transfers and transfers of the general government, generated a surplus of EUR35 million in January-February 2023, lower by EUR24 million than in the same interval of 2022.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) stood at EUR1.98 billion in January-February 2023, compared with EUR1.90 billion in the same period of 2022. Of the overall FDI, equity stakes (including estimated net reinvestment of earnings) amounted to a net EUR1.57 billion, while intra-group lending reached a net value of EUR405 million, the data showed.
Romania’s total external debt increased by EUR9.8 billion at the end of February 2023 versus the end of 2022, standing at EUR154 billion. Long-term external debt stood at EUR106 billion at end-February 2023, accounting for 69% of the total external debt, up 9.1% versus December 31, 2022. Short-term external debt stood at EUR47.8 billion at end-February 2023, accounting for 31% of the total external debt, up 2.2% versus December 31, 2022.
Long-term external debt service ratio stood at 13.1% in January – February 2023 against 16.2% in 2022.
At end-February 2023, the ratio of the National Bank of Romania’s foreign exchange reserves to short-term external debt by remaining maturity came in at 88.8% as against 80.2% at end-2022.