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Foreign trade in figures

France is a major actor in global trade. It is the world's ninth exporter and sixth importer of merchandise (WTO, 2021), and trade represents 60.8% of the country's GDP (World Bank, 2021). France exports essentially pharmaceutical products, aircrafts, vehicles, food products (wine), turbines and beauty products. The country imports vehicles, hydrocarbons, pharmaceutical products and many consumer goods (Comtrade). After collapsing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trade volumes rebounded in 2021 and remained high in 2022. According to IMF data, the volume of exports of goods and services increased by 6.9% compared to 2021, and the volume of imports increased by 6.7%. The IMF expects the volume of exports and imports to grow at a slower pace in 2023 (respectively +1.5% and +1.6%) and to accelerate in 2024 (respectively +3.7% and +3.2%).

France's main trade partners are the European Union (Germany being the 1st customer and supplier), the United States and China. The impact of the departure of the UK from the EU (Brexit) still raises many questions and may lead to a reorganisation of trade relations. The UK is currently France’s 6th customer and 8th supplier (Comtrade, 2021).

France registers a strong structural trade deficit. While the goods balance is structurally in deficit as the country is a net energy importer, the services balance is in surplus thanks to tourism revenues. According to WTO data, in 2021, France exported goods with a total value of USD 584.8 billion, while it imported them for a total value of USD 714.1 billion. As for the services, France exported around USD 303 billion worth services in 2021, while it imported services for the total value of USD 258.3 billion. Since 2015, the balance of goods and services excluding energy has become negative, as the deficit in manufactured goods continues to widen, mainly due to the relocation of automobile production and investment in imported machinery. Imports are developing quickly, as the French population buys a substantial amount of imported goods, which are sold at cheaper prices on the local market compared with products that are 'Made in France'. Despite the government's efforts to favour innovation, French exports have a relatively low added value. In 2021, the trade deficit excluding services reached USD 79.5 billion  (World Bank). According to the latest data published by INSEE (Points de Conjoncture, December 2022), in 2022 exports of goods and services increased by 8.1% compared to 2021, while imports increased by 8.9%. Despite limited trade with Russia, the war in Ukraine contributes to the deterioration of the external situation and a slowdown in activity in Europe. The weaker demand will hamper the rebound of key sectors such as aeronautics, and the automotive industry (Coface).

 
Foreign Trade Values 20172018201920202021
Imports of goods (milions USD) 618,649676,441654,658582,564714,102
Exports of goods (milions USD) 535,189582,222570,951488,372584,768
Imports of services (milions USD) 245,329273,593269,940231,587258,299
Exports of services (milions USD) 273,953302,272293,569244,998303,028

Font: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign trade indicators 20172018201920202021
Foreign trade (in % of GDP) 63.064.464.156.960.8
Trade balance (milions USD) -51,541-60,734-52,800-66,740-79,542
Trade Balance including service (milions USD) -23,499-32,201-24,198-44,969-36,853
Imports of goods and services (annual % change) 4.53.12.3-12.88.0
Exports of goods and services (annual % change) 4.44.51.6-16.88.8
Imports of goods and services (in % of GDP) 32.032.732.529.431.4
Exports of goods and services (in % of GDP) 30.931.731.627.529.4

Font: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20222023 (e)2024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 7.12.73.74.34.2
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 9.11.40.74.03.8

Font: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated data

 
International economic cooperation
France is a member of the following international economic organisations: ICC, European Union, WTO, European Economic Area, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IMF, OECD, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates France click here. International organisation membership of France is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by France can be consulted here.
 

Main country partners

Main customers
(% of exports)
2021
Alemanya 14.0%
Itàlia 7.9%
Bèlgica 7.6%
Espanya 7.4%
Estats Units 7.0%
Mostrar més països 56.0%
Main suppliers
(% of imports)
2021
Alemanya 16.8%
Bèlgica 10.7%
Països Baixos 8.9%
Itàlia 8.3%
Espanya 7.8%
Mostrar més països 47.5%

Font: Comtrade, 2022. tableau-comtrade-note-arrondi.

 
 

Main products

585.2 milliards USD Main exports
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 4.6%
Powered aircraft "e.g. helicopters and aeroplanes...Powered aircraft "e.g. helicopters and aeroplanes"; spacecraft, incl. satellites, and suborbital and spacecraft launch vehicles 4.4%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.6%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s. 2.4%
Wine of fresh grapes, incl. fortified wines; grape...Wine of fresh grapes, incl. fortified wines; grape must, partly fermented and of an actual alcoholic strength of > 0,5% vol or grape must with added alcohol of an actual alcoholic strength of > 0,5% vol 2.2%
Other products 82.8%
714.8 milliards USD Main imports
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 5.6%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 3.5%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 2.8%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 2.7%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 2.5%
Other products 82.9%

Font: Comtrade, 2022. tableau-comtrade-note-arrondi.

 
 

To go further, check out our service title_service__flux-import-export.html-court.

 

Main services

226.7 milliards USD Main services exported in 2020
+
38.45%
+
18.72%
+
14.36%
+
6.86%
6.48%
4.80%
+
4.66%
+
2.48%
+
1.84%
+
1.08%
0.27%
215.9 milliards USD Main services imported in 2020
+
36.51%
+
21.50%
+
12.86%
+
9.17%
5.70%
+
5.29%
3.45%
+
2.31%
+
2.21%
+
0.93%
0.08%

Font: source-tableau-top-services, 2023. tableau-comtrade-note-arrondi.

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