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Foreign trade figures of France

Foreign Trade in Figures

France is a major actor in global trade, with trade representing 71% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). According to data from Comtrade, France’s exports in 2023 were led by powered aircraft (4.7%), medicaments (4.1%), motor cars (3.9%), turbojets and gas turbines (3.1%), and parts and accessories for motor vehicles (2.3%); whereas imports comprised petroleum oils (7.7%), motor cars (5.9%), petroleum gas (4.9%), parts and accessories for motor vehicles (2.5%), and medicaments (2.3%). Aerospace exports continued to recover in 2023 (+16.7%) but remained below 2019 levels. Exports of perfumes, cosmetics, textiles, and capital goods reached record highs. The energy bill fell by nearly 40%, from EUR 115.5 billion in 2022 to EUR 69.0 billion in 2023, mainly due to normalized energy prices (data INSEE).

In terms of countries, the main export destinations in 2023 were Germany (13.5%), Italy (9.0%), Belgium (8.2%), Spain (7.5%), and the U.S. (7.1%), with imports coming chiefly from Germany (15.5%), Belgium (11.4%), Netherlands (8.8%), Spain (8.1%), Italy (8.0%), China (5.8%), and the U.S (5.6% - data Comtrade). Overall, the EU accounted for 55.3% of total exports and 52.4% of imports (INSEE).

France registers a strong structural trade deficit. Nevertheless, 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 2023, France exported goods with a total value of USD 648.4 billion (+4.5% y-o-y), while it imported USD 785.8 billion (-4.5% y-o-y amid lower energy prices). As for the services, France exported around USD 355.7 billion (+3.5% y-o-y), while imports stood at USD 322.5 billion (+11.6% y-o-y). The overall trade balance was estimated to be negative by 2.8% of GDP by the World Bank (from 2% one year earlier). According to the latest data published by the French customs authority, in 2024, CIF imports fell by 4.5% to EUR 698.9 billion, continuing the 2023 decline after two years of sharp increases. The drop, mainly driven by lower energy prices, outweighed a rise in aerospace imports. Manufactured goods imports also fell, with declines in cars and machinery surpassing gains in aerospace. Exports decreased by 1.6% to EUR 598.3 billion, ending three years of growth, mainly due to lower prices. The decline was driven by autos, hydrocarbons, and electronic components, while aerospace, perfumes, and agri-food exports increased. France lost some market share in 2024, following a rare gain in 2023.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 654,658581,297715,082823,216785,884
Exports of Goods (million USD) 570,951488,637585,021620,461648,481
Imports of Services (million USD) 267,073227,198262,401288,910322,527
Exports of Services (million USD) 295,746246,122303,380343,547355,735

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

Foreign Trade Indicators 20192020202120222023
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 66.458.863.875.870.6
Trade Balance (million USD) -41,032-58,613-77,149-139,511-82,338
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -15,555-45,869-30,255-71,200-43,852
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 1.9-12.28.38.80.3
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 2.1-16.611.38.22.1
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 33.530.332.539.336.3
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 32.928.631.336.534.3

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20242025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)2028 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 2.02.73.23.23.2
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) -1.61.82.32.52.7

Source: 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 Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
Germany 13.5%
Italy 9.0%
Belgium 8.2%
Spain 7.5%
United States 7.1%
See More Countries 54.7%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
Germany 15.5%
Belgium 11.4%
Netherlands 8.8%
Spain 8.1%
Italy 8.0%
See More Countries 48.2%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

640.2 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Powered aircraft "e.g. helicopters and aeroplanes...Powered aircraft "e.g. helicopters and aeroplanes"; spacecraft, incl. satellites, and suborbital and spacecraft launch vehicles 4.7%
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) 4.1%
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) 3.9%
Turbojets, turbopropellers and other gas turbinesTurbojets, turbopropellers and other gas turbines 3.1%
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. 2.3%
See More Products 81.9%
777.1 bn USD of products imported in 2023
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) 5.9%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 4.9%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 4.0%
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 3.7%
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. 2.5%
See More Products 79.0%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: March 2025