2026.04.1507:19:35UTC+00Romanian Industrial Output Falls at Softer Pace

Romania’s industrial production declined by 1.5% year-on-year in February 2026, easing from a downwardly revised 3.5% contraction in January, which had been the sharpest drop in ten months. The overall slowdown in the downturn was largely driven by a softer contraction in the manufacturing sector (-2.4% vs. -6.0% in January). Within manufacturing, output increased notably in the production of food and beverages, paper and paper products, chemicals and chemical products, computer, electronic and optical products, as well as other transport equipment.

In contrast, mining and quarrying activity deteriorated further, with output falling 3.1% compared with a 1.6% decline in the previous month, weighed down by lower production of metal ores, coal and lignite, and crude petroleum and natural gas. Meanwhile, growth in the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sector tempered, rising 4.4% year-on-year after a 9.8% increase in January.

On a month-on-month basis, industrial output slipped 0.4% in February, a smaller decline than the 3.0% fall recorded in January, which had marked an eighteen-month low.