Investigating Romania’s Export Performance Over Two Decades

Abstract

This paper investigates the evolution of Romania’s international trade over two decades (2000-2019). Export performance is analyzed along with rising imports, using statistical data and measurement of the specialization index and the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) in selected categories of products. The results of the research indicate a major transformation of the structure of Romanian exports under the influence of the integration into the European Union, the world economic crisis, but also the participation in production networks. The country has lowered the trade deficit for some years and has moved towards more technology-intensive products, but efforts are still needed in trade-related infrastructure, branding and promotional support measures.