January 9 (SeeNews) - Romania's trade deficit increased to an estimated 11.3 billion euro ($13.5 billion) in the first 11 months of 2017 from 8.8 billion euro in the like period of the previous year, the country's statistical office, INS, said on Tuesday.
Exports rose by 9.5%, while imports grew 12.3% on the year in the period January-November, INS said in a statement.
The European Union absorbed 76.0% of Romania's exports and provided 75.9% of the country's imports in the period under review.
Machinery and transport equipment contributed 46.4% of Romania's exports and 37.3% of the country's imports in the first eleven months of 2017, while other manufactured goods made up 33.4% of exports and 30.9% of imports.
In November alone, Romania's exports rose 8.9% on the year, while imports increased 11.8% relative to the corresponding month of 2016.
Romania's trade gap widened to 9.95 billion euro in 2016 from 8.36 billion euro in the previous year.
($=0.8518 euro)