Exporters reclaim Eastern Europe

Romanian exporters have started to turn to the Central and Eastern European markets again, with deliveries to this area up 37% in February, National Statistics Institute (INS) data show. Still, the EU market remains the top destination for Romanian goods, and absorbs 69.3% of the total exports. Italy keeps its position as top trade partner, with 23.6% in the total exports and 16.6% in the total value of goods exported. Germany is still the second leading export destination, absorbing 16% of the products sold abroad and supplying 13.5% of the total imports. The export structure shows an increase in sales of mechanical machinery and devices, as well as electrical machinery, devices and equipment, higher the overall growth average. Exports of goods in February amounted to 1.4bn euros in FOB prices, nearly 21% higher than in the same month of 2003. ZF