Brazil is Romania's main trading partner among Mercosur countries

Brazil accounted for 86.1% of Romania's exports in 2024 to the four South American countries that are members of Mercosur and 58.5% of imports from the region, according to an analysis carried out by President of the National Institute of Statistics (INS) Tudorel Andrei."In order to highlight the importance of statistical data, I will present below general characteristics of Romania's trade in goods with four South American countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) that are part of the Mercosur agreement. In 2024, Romania's exports and imports with these countries were small in scale. The four countries accounted for 0.27% of Romania's total exports and 0.33% of imports. Foreign trade activity in this economic region is carried out by companies with significant potential, which account for an important share of Romania's total goods exports and imports (39% of exports and 22% of imports). Of the four countries, Brazil is Romania's most important trading partner. Romania's exports to Brazil accounted for 86.1% of exports to the Mercosur countries and 58.5% of imports," Tudorel Andrei wrote in the analysis called "The role of official statistics in a democratic society."According to the analysis, the most important goods exports were from the following chapters: 84- nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, mechanical appliances; and parts thereof; 87 - vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock; parts and accessories thereof; 85 - electrical machinery, equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers; parts and accessories of such articles; 40 - rubber and articles thereof; 72 - cast iron, iron and steel.According to him, the degree of concentration in goods imports is lower than in goods exports. A total of 20 companies account for 80% of the volume of goods imports from the four countries. Of these, seven specialise in importing products from these countries, with their market share standing at around 40%.Tudorel Andrei argues that a detailed analysis of the statistical data collected each month by the official statistics system can highlight a wide range of important characteristics when assessing Romania's foreign trade with Mercosur countries.He mentioned that statistical data such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the foreign trade deficit in goods, the budget deficit, etc. are closely monitored by the international business community."Most statistical data published by statistical offices quickly become public information that can give rise to various comments on the economic situation in a country. It is no coincidence that, in the process of preparing Romania's accession to the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development], the statistical field was assessed with great attention by international experts, being one of the priority areas of this process. In the recommendations made by the OECD experts for strengthening the statistical system, ensuring adequate and sustainable human, financial and technical resources is highlighted as one of the most important priorities. While currently, under the Single Pay Law 153/2017, the public service position assigned to official statistics is among the least attractive in public administration, it is recommended that, through the new pay law, statistics (INS) should have its own pay scale so that it allows for the retention and recruitment of staff at a level commensurate with the requirements and importance of official statistics in a modern democratic state. Statistical data are transformed into information through the most diverse channels, but all of these help to enrich knowledge of a phenomenon only insofar as there is interest and expertise in analysing an entire series of data in depth," Tudorel Andrei also wrote.