According to the Romanian National Bank, the first half of 2022 recorded a 21% growth in foreign direct investments in Romania.
Comparatively to the same period in the previous year, the current account deficit for the balance of payments increased to EUR 12,298 million from January to June 2022. The breakdown shows a EUR 487 million increase in the services surplus, a EUR 1,349 million increase in the primary income deficit, and a EUR 44 million decline in the rest on secondary income. The trade-related debt climbed by 4,189 million euros.
A total of 4,379 million euros were invested directly by non-residents in Romania from January to June 2021 (up from 3,605 million), with equity (including the expected net reinvestment of earnings) and intercompany lending recording net values of 3,115 and 1,264 million euros, respectively.
According to Valahia News, between January and June 2022, the total amount of external debt climbed by EUR 2,645 million. At the end of June 2022, the long-term foreign debt stood at EUR 93,691 billion (68.3% of total external debt), a decrease of 3.6% from the previous year. Short-term external debt increased by 16.3% from 2021 to EUR 43,571 million, or 31.7% of total external debt.
The long-term external debt servicing ratio from January to June 2022 was 15.5%, compared to 16.4% in 2021. At the end of June 2022, the import cover for goods and services was 4.3 months, down from 4.9 months at the end of 2021.
The foreign exchange reserves of the National Bank of Romania were 76.4% of its short-term external debt by remaining maturity at the end of June 2022, down from 81.9% at the end of 2021.
