Romania’s economy is slowing, but Greek exports are moving in the opposite direction. They rose by 20.6% in the first half of 2026, reaching €1.19bn, while Romania’s total imports increased by just 1.7%. The divergence shows that Greek products are gaining ground in a market where import demand is growing only modestly.
According to a report by the Office for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Greek embassy in Bucharest, Greek imports from Romania reached €706.5m, bringing the total value of bilateral trade to €1.9bn. Greece’s trade surplus widened by 24.9% to €483.5m.
The performance is particularly significant given the composition of exports. Unlike in other export markets, Greek sales to Romania do not include refined petroleum products or natural gas.
Fruit tops the list, with sales of €150.1m, followed by photovoltaic panels, at €143.9m. Together, they account for almost a quarter of exports. Next come copper wire, at €86.1m; plastic, at €74.9m; iron bars, at €70.7m; toys, at €68.2m; and asphalt, at €67.6m.
Products linked to infrastructure and energy are showing the strongest momentum. Exports of iron and steel pipes for oil and gas pipelines rose by 145.7%, while those of photovoltaic panels more than doubled. Asphalt and copper wire also recorded strong growth.
The presence of Greek companies in Romania is also reflected in trade in the other direction. Imports include wires and cables from the Viohalco group and dairy products from Hellenic Dairies. The two categories were worth €67.4m and €42.1m, respectively. Imports of passenger cars were also significant, at €51.1m, followed by plastics, wood products and wheat.
Romania is the sixth most important destination for Greek exports, after Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the United States. The strong growth in the first half of the year underlines its importance to Greek businesses. But sustaining this momentum will depend on the performance of the Romanian economy and demand for industrial and consumer goods.