France Balance of Trade

Last Release

Jan 31, 2025

Actual

-6,540

Units In

EUR Million

-3,905

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Apr 08, 2025

Time to Release

29 Days 0 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
2,674 Oct 1997	-17,486.7 Sep 2022	-1,947.05 EUR Million	1970-2025	N/A

Since 2004, France has been recording trade deficits due the gradual erosion of the export-oriented industry, the appreciation of the euro and the increasing dependency on imports of energy and manufactured products. In 2017, the biggest trade deficits were recorded with: China & Hong Kong, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium; while the biggest trade surpluses were recorded with: the Middle East, the UK, Africa and Switzerland.

Latest Updates

The trade deficit in France widened to €6.5 billion in January 2025 from €3.9 billion in December and well above the expected €4.1 billion. Exports declined 4.6% month-on-month to €49.8 billion, driven by lower sales of transport equipment (-8.1%), agricultural and aquaculture products (-5.6%), and mechanical, electrical, and computer equipment (-5.3%). Exports declined across Asia (-19.1%), America (-11.7%), Africa (-11%), the Middle East (-8.7%), and the European Union (-0.2%). Meanwhile, imports rose 1.2% to €56.4 billion, led by higher purchases of natural hydrocarbons and extractive industry products (+17.2%), plans and technical drawings (+16.7%), and other industrial products (+2.5%). Imports increased from the Middle East (+16.9%), America (+7.1%), Asia (+1%), and the European Union (+0.5%).