National Bank of Romania reports current account deficit of EUR 22,275 million and total external debt of EUR 221,283 million at 30 September 2025

The National Bank of Romania published balance of payments and external debt statistics for January–September 2025, showing the current account deficit widened to EUR 22,275 million from EUR 20,515 million in January–September 2024. Total external debt increased by EUR 17,773 million to EUR 221,283 million at 30 September 2025. The larger current account deficit reflected a bigger goods deficit and wider primary income deficit, partly offset by a higher services surplus. The goods balance recorded a deficit of EUR 24,026 million and the services balance a surplus of EUR 9,621 million, while the primary income deficit widened to EUR 8,075 million and the secondary income surplus narrowed to EUR 205 million. Non-resident direct investment totalled EUR 5,647 million, including net equity participation (including estimated reinvested earnings) of EUR 4,972 million and net intra-group loans of EUR 675 million. Long-term external debt rose to EUR 174,027 million (78.6% of total), up 11.3% from 31 December 2024, while short-term external debt was EUR 47,256 million (21.4% of total), up 0.2% over the same comparison period. The long-term external debt service ratio was 15.1% in January–September 2025, import cover was 6.0 months at 30 September 2025, and coverage of short-term external debt at residual maturity with the National Bank of Romania’s foreign exchange reserves was 103.2%. The National Bank of Romania noted that the data are revised monthly, and the next monthly “Balance of payments and external debt” press release is scheduled for 15 December 2025.