Romania ranks sixth in the European Union (EU) by the growth of exports in the first three months of the year, with 40 percent, according to the data presented by Eurostat. External supplies climbed from EUR 7.9 billion in the first quarter of last year, to EUR 11.1 billion in the first quarter of 2011.

After the increase in imports of 26 percent, Romania ranks ninth in the first quarter, the country’s imports advancing from EUR 10 billion to EUR 12.6 billion in the first three months of 2011.

Estonia with 52 percent, Lithuania with 50 percent and Latvia with 37 percent, had the largest increases in export, the only decrease being recorded in Greece, according to Eurostat.

Romania's trade deficit for the first three months of 2011 was of EUR 1.5 billion, ranking ninth in the EU. In January-March last year, Romania had a trade deficit of EUR 2.1 billion. The largest deficit of EUR 28.6 billion was registered in the UK, while the highest surplus of EUR 40 billion was reported in Germany.

Read the full Eurostat report (PDF version) here.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com