Automotive, machinery, consumer goods, electrical equipment and business services are driving the UK–Romania economic relationship, with bilateral trade reaching £10.3 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2025, up 4.9% year-on-year, according to the latest data released by the UK Department for Business and Trade. UK exports to Romania increased by 7.0% to £3.0 billion, while UK imports from Romania rose by 4.0% to £7.3 billion, positioning Romania as the UK’s 32nd-largest trading partner.
Trade in goods remains anchored by strong industrial and manufacturing activity. Cars were the UK’s largest goods import from Romania, reaching £1.3 billion and accounting for 30.4% of total goods imports from the country, following an 18.4% year-on-year increase. Other leading categories included beverages and tobacco, general industrial machinery and electrical goods. UK goods exports to Romania were led by beverages and tobacco, mechanical power generators and cars, highlighting the importance of established industrial supply chains and the potential for further sector-specific cooperation.
Services are also becoming an increasingly important component of the bilateral relationship. UK services exports to Romania increased by 16.1%, reaching £1.5 billion and accounting for 50.5% of total UK exports to the country. Travel was the largest service category, representing 37.1% of UK services exports to Romania and 43.2% of UK services imports from Romania, followed by other business services and transportation.
The significant contribution of business services reflects the growing sophistication of bilateral trade and creates further opportunities in professional services, technology, research and development, management consulting and digitalisation.
Commenting on the latest data, Robert Uzună, Chairman of BRCC, stated: “The latest figures mark another increase in UK–Romania bilateral trade, confirming the positive momentum of the economic relationship. Particularly encouraging is the strength of key sectors such as automotive, machinery and electrical equipment, together with the increasing relevance of business services. These results provide a solid foundation for further development and point to new opportunities for investment, innovation and sector-specific partnerships. At BRCC, we will continue to connect companies, institutions and industry leaders, helping transform this momentum into concrete projects and sustainable long-term growth.”
As a central facilitator of this relationship, the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce (BRCC) continues to play a key role in building and sustaining a strong bilateral business ecosystem. Through its network of members, strategic partnerships and ongoing dialogue with public authorities in both countries, BRCC supports companies in identifying sector-specific opportunities, fostering relevant connections and developing new avenues for growth.
Key fields of cooperation and further potential
Beyond trade, investment flows highlight both progress and untapped potential. The stock of UK foreign direct investment in Romania stood at £752 million at the end of 2024, decreasing by 19.9% compared with the previous year and signalling an opportunity to strengthen investment pipelines and long-term capital engagement.
In contrast, Romanian foreign direct investment in the UK increased by 22.2%, reaching £303 million, reflecting increased confidence and the continued international expansion of Romanian businesses.
Romania’s broader economic trajectory reinforces its growing importance in the European landscape. Its GDP is projected to reach $480.8 billion in 2026, positioning the country as the world’s 39th-largest economy. Exporting activity was estimated to support approximately 2.6 million jobs in Romania in 2022, including around 103,600 jobs supported by exports to the UK.
The UK’s overall market share in Romania stood at 2.2% in 2024, indicating further room for expansion, particularly in automotive, advanced manufacturing, industrial machinery, electrical equipment, business services and technology.
The combination of established industrial supply chains and a growing services component provides a strong foundation for a deeper and more integrated economic relationship between Romania and the United Kingdom.
About British Romanian Chamber of Commerce
The British Romanian Chamber of Commerce is the premier business-led organisation promoting bilateral trade and investment between the United Kingdom and Romania. Our mission is to facilitate and increase trade between those two countries through business-to-business dialogue.
The British Romanian Chamber of Commerce plays an influential role in creating and sustaining an environment in which free-trade and investment flourishes. Through the facilitation of partnerships, and with an extensive network of influential corporate and individual members, the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce provides the resource, knowledge and infrastructure support vital to UK companies to make the most of emerging opportunities in Romania, and for Romanian companies to do business in the established markets of the UK.
Established in 1998, the BRCC is an independent organisation, owned entirely by its members, with offices in London, Bucharest, Cluj and Timisoara.