Romania posts first decrease in exports in December but scores overall increase in 2011

December 2011 exports were down 0.8 percent on December 2010 in Romania amounting to some EUR 3.2 billion, according to the Romanian Statistics Institute (INS). This was the first decrease in exports reported in the country last year, when yearly exports were up overall. Exports grew by 20.5 percent in 2011 over 2010, to EUR 45 billion, while the imports went up by 16.7 percent. Last year, Romania’s trade deficit was EUR 9.72 billion, EUR 188 million more than 2010, according to the INS. Exports were fueled by cars and transport equipment - 41 percent, while other manufactured products covered 33 percent of exports. Romania also imported cars and transport equipment - 34.6 percent of imports. December's trade deficit stood at EUR 1.02 billion, EUR 177 million higher than December 2010. Imports went up by 3.7 percent, according to INS. Compared to November 2011, exports decreased by 20.6 percent in December, while the imports also went down 15.1 percent. Read the entire Ins report here(in Romanian, PDF version). Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (photo source: Sxc.hu)