The National Bank of Romania published provisional balance of payments and external debt data for January to October 2025, showing the current account deficit widened to EUR 24,636m from EUR 23,644m in the same period of 2024. Non-resident direct investment in Romania totalled EUR 7,237m, and total external debt increased by EUR 22,078m to EUR 225,588m at 31 October 2025. The wider current account deficit reflected a slightly larger goods deficit (EUR 26,808m, up EUR 51m year on year) and a larger primary income deficit (EUR 8,168m, up EUR 807m), partly offset by a higher services surplus (EUR 10,444m, up EUR 560m). Secondary income shifted from a EUR 590m surplus to a EUR 104m deficit, a negative swing of EUR 694m. Direct investment comprised net equity participation of EUR 4,967m (including estimated reinvested earnings) and net intra-group lending of EUR 2,270m. Long-term external debt reached EUR 177,617m (78.7% of total, up 13.6% versus 31 December 2024) and short-term external debt EUR 47,971m (21.3% of total, up 1.7%); the long-term debt service ratio was 17.1% for January to October 2025, while reserves covered 6.0 months of imports and 105.2% of short-term external debt on a residual-maturity basis. The National Bank of Romania noted that the data are revised monthly and announced the next monthly “Balance of payments and external debt” release for 14 January 2026.
National Bank of Romania 2025-12-15
National Bank of Romania reports EUR 24.6bn current account deficit and external debt rising to EUR 225.6bn in January to October 2025
The National Bank of Romania reported a widened current account deficit of EUR 24,636m for January to October 2025, compared to EUR 23,644m in the same period of 2024. Non-resident direct investment reached EUR 7,237m, while total external debt increased by EUR 22,078m to EUR 225,588m as of 31 October 2025. The data, revised monthly, will have its next release on 14 January 2026.