Romania's net investments climb 11.9% in first half despite economic contraction

In the first six months of 2026, Romania's net investments grew by 11.9% compared with the previous year, driven largely by a surge in tangible-asset spending that rose more than 17% and a 17.8% increase in new-construction projects. The EU-backed Resilience Facility remained a major contributor throughout the period and is expected to stay influential through 2026. Productive-equipment purchases also rose by over 18% in both H1 and Q2.

Despite these investment gains, the economy contracted, with GDP slipping 0.7% in H1 and a 0.4% drop in Q2, according to preliminary data from the National Institute of Statistics released on September 7. Construction was the sole sector delivering a notable positive impact, with output up 12.3% in H1 and 15.3% in Q2, partially offsetting declines in industry and services. Gross fixed capital formation increased 10.9% in H1 and 12.7% in Q2, while household consumption fell 1% in both periods.