November 9 (SeeNews) - Romania's trade deficit increased to 9.95 billion euro ($11.4 billion) in the first nine months of the year, compared to a shortfall of 8.89 billion euro in the same period of 2017, the national statistical office, INS, said on Friday.
Exports and imports rose by 9.1% and 9.5% on the year, respectively, in the period January-September, INS said in a statement.
The European Union absorbed 76.7% of Romania's exports in the period under review, and provided 74.8% of the country's imports.
Machinery and transport equipment accounted for 47.4% of Romanian exports and 37.9% of imports.
In September alone, Romania's exports rose 5.1% on the year, while imports increased by 3.4%.
Romania's trade gap widened to 12.96 billion euro in 2017 from 9.972 billion euro in the previous year.
($= 0.8814 euro)