Romania's external debt up EUR 16.5 bln, mainly on Govt. borrowing, in year to April
<p>Romania's gross external debt (not including the loans contracted by FDI companies from parent groups) increased by 12% y/y or EUR 16.5 billion in 12 months to April 2025, according to data <a href="https://www.bnro.ro/page.aspx?prid=26460&amp;mc_cid=852dea6113&amp;mc_eid=607bd7d763" rel="noopener" target="_blank">published</a> by the National Bank of Romania. The gross external debt (GED) reached EUR 158.2 billion, equivalent to 44.7% of the country's GDP.</p>

<p>The rise in Romania's GED over the past 12 months to April 2025 accounts for 4.7% of the country's GDP, and it has financed just above half of Romania's EUR 33.4 billion current account (CA) deficit over the period.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Out of the total rise in the country's external debt, EUR 14.4 billion (87%) was generated by the government sector, while the private companies contributed only EUR 2.3 billion.</p>

<p>Romania's GED increased significantly in 2023 when the country had to handle the shock of the costly import of energy resources. In that year, the GED rose by +EUR 26 billion, out of which +EUR 24 billion on the side of the government. Since then, the annual increase in GED gas eased towards EUR 12 billion in January-March 2025, to increase to EUR 16.5 billion in April.</p>

<p>(Photo: <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Dreamstime</a>)</p>

<p><em>iulian@romania-insider.com</em></p>