UPDATE 1 - Romania's Jan-Sept C/A Gap Widens to 12.704 Bln Euro from 11.071 Bln Euro Yr-Ago

Romania's trade deficit for the January-September period rose by 11.7% on the year, reaching 13.661 billion euro on a FOB/FOB (free-on-board) basis, the central bank, BNR, said in a statement.

The current account deficit was 56.6% covered by foreign direct investments (FDI), which totalled 7.194 billion euro over the same period. FDI in Romania reached 5.013 billion euro in the first nine months of 2007, covering 42.5% of the current account gap for the period, BNR said last year.

Details follow (in million euro):

* estimated figures

** revised figures

Romania’s current account gap for last year was equivalent to 14% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Romania's National Prognoses Commission (CNP), the government's team of economic advisers, has projected the 2008 current account gap at 14.9% of GDP, while BNR expects it to shrink to 13.5%-13.7% of GDP.

($ = 0.797 euro)