Romanian counties Brașov and Timiș show diverging trade and industrial trends in early 2026

In Brașov County, wholesale trade fell sharply, with a 20% drop in turnover from January to May 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Retail sales remained almost flat, slipping 0.1% over the first five months, but the county’s retail performance is still better than the national average, where retail fell 5.5%.

Timiș County’s industrial output also slowed, decreasing 2.1% in the first five months of 2026 and its industrial turnover falling 4.5%. Despite the industrial slowdown, the county’s external trade remains strong: exports reached €2.91 billion, accounting for about two‑thirds of the western region’s total, and the trade surplus hit €359 million, the highest in the region. Unemployment stayed at 1%, the lowest in the western region, and the average net salary rose to 6,244 lei. Tourism rebounded with 34,355 arrivals in May, and construction activity continued, with 170 residential building permits issued.