The highest increase in deficit came from the international trade in goods again, 20% to EUR14.3 billion, followed by primary income (which includes compensation of employees, investment income, taxes, subsidies i.e.), whose deficit reached EUR2.2 billion, EUR587 million higher than in January-August 2020.
The secondary income balance, which includes private transfers and transfers of the general government, significantly reduced its surplus by EUR315 million to EUR820 millbion.
The services balance surplus shrank by EUR309 million to EUR5.6 billion in the first eight months of the year. The transport segment accounted for the biggest share, with a surplus of EUR2.7 billion, slightly up from last year’s EUR2.5 billion, while the tourism-travel segment posted an increase in deficit to EUR1.1 billion from EUR1.05 billion at the end of August 2020.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) stood at EUR4.39 billion in January-August, compared with EUR1.48 billion in January-August 2020. Of total FDI, equity stakes (including estimated net reinvestment of earnings) amounted to EUR3.8 billion, while net intra-group lending stood at EUR591 million.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)