Romania’s total external debt increased

Romania’s total external debt increased by 514 million euros, to 205.407 billion euros, between January and March, according to data from the National Bank of Romania (BNR).

“During January-March 2025, total external debt increased by 514 million euros, to 205.407 billion euros.

In structure: long-term external debt amounted to 156.881 billion euros on March 31, 2025 (76.4% of total external debt), up 1.2% compared to December 31, 2024; short-term external debt recorded on March 31, 2025 the level of 48.526 billion euros (23.6% of total external debt), down 2.7% compared to December 31, 2024,” according to INS data.

In the period January-March 2025, the current account of the balance of payments recorded a deficit of 7.656 billion euros, compared to 4.201 billion euros in the period January-March 2024. In its structure, the balance of goods recorded a deficit higher by 1.997 billion euros, the balance of services recorded a surplus lower by 503 million euros, the balance of primary income recorded a deficit lower by 140 million euros, and the balance of secondary income made a negative contribution of 1.095 billion euros.

Direct investments of non-residents in Romania amounted to 1.672 billion euros (compared to 2.481 billion euros in the period January – March 2024), of which equity participations (including estimated reinvested profit) amounted to a net value of 2.979 billion euros, and intragroup loans recorded a net value of -1.307 billion euros.

The long-term external debt service rate was 11.5% in the period January – March 2025, compared to 19.6% in 2024. The coverage rate of imports of goods and services as of March 31, 2025 was 5.7 months, a similar level to that of December 31, 2024. The coverage rate of short-term external debt, calculated at the residual value, with foreign exchange reserves at the NBR as of March 31, 2025 was 101.4%, compared to 99.1% as of December 31, 2024.