Record exports in January: 3.4bn euros

Romania’s trade deficit fell 60% in January against the first month of last year, to 186.2 million euros, as a result of a much more significant rise of exports against that of imports, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INS).

The trade deficit amounted to 795.1 million lei in January, down by 1.178 billion lei compared with January of last year.

Exports amounted to 14.59 billion lei (3.4 billion euros) in January, with imports totalling 15.39 billion lei (3.6 billion euros). Compared with January 2010, exports surged 51.8% in lei (47.8% in euros), while imports went up 32.8% in lei (29.4% in euro).

Exports were 3.3% higher in lei against December last year (3.9% higher in euros), and imports fell 12.3% in lei (11.8% in euros).

The difference between the rate calculated in lei and the one calculated in euros was the result of the depreciation of the Romanian currency by 2.9% in January 2011 against January 2010.