The international exchange of goods generated a deficit of EUR6.5 billion in the first three months of 2023, lower by EUR150 million versus the same period of 2022, the same data show.
The services balance recorded a surplus of EUR2.8 billion in January-March 2023, higher by EUR578 million than in the first three months of 2022. The largest surplus came from the telecommunications, computer and information services, in the amount of EUR1.31 billion, and the transport segment generated a surplus of EUR1.22 billion.
Instead, the tourism-travel segment saw a deficit of EUR711 million in January-March 2023, lower than EUR795 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 EUR1.43 billion in January-March 2023, higher by EUR148 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 EUR157 million in January-March 2023, lower by EUR155 million than in the same interval of 2022.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) stood at EUR2.58 billion in January-March 2023, compared with EUR2.88 billion in the same period of 2022. Of the overall FDI, equity stakes (including estimated net reinvestment of earnings) amounted to a net EUR2.94 billion, while intra-group lending reached a net value of EUR358 million, the data showed.
Romania’s total external debt (public and private) increased by EUR10.1 billion in January-March 2023 versus the end of 2022, standing at EUR154.7 billion, central bank also showed on May 15. Long-term external debt stood at EUR107.2 billion on March 31, 2023, accounting for 69.3% of the total external debt, up 9.8% versus December 31, 2022. Short-term external debt stood at EUR47.4 billion at end-March 2023, accounting for 30.7% of the total external debt, up 1.3% versus December 31, 2022.
Long-term external debt service ratio stood at 14.6% in January – March 2023 against 16.2% in 2022.
At end-March 2023, the ratio of the National Bank of Romania’s foreign exchange reserves to short-term external debt by remaining maturity came in at 90.9% as against 80.2% at end-2022.