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France trade in 2024

In 2024, France exported $628.5 billion and imported $746.1 billion, a trade deficit of $117.6 billion. It was the world's 8th-largest exporter, with 2.8% of world exports. Its top export was airplanes and helicopters (6.2% of the total) and its main trading partner was Germany (12.4% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$628.5billion
Imports
$746.1billion
Trade balance
-$117.6billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Airplanes and helicopters (6.2%) and medicines in measured doses or retail packs (4.4%) together make up 10.6% of its exports.

  1. Airplanes and helicopters$38.7 billion · 6.2%
    Main partner: Ireland
  2. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$27.6 billion · 4.4%
    Main partner: United States
  3. Cars$25 billion · 4%
    Main partner: Belgium
  4. Turbojets and gas turbines$21.1 billion · 3.4%
    Main partner: United States
  5. Auto parts$14.6 billion · 2.3%
    Main partner: Germany
  6. Makeup and skin care$13.2 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: China
  7. Wine$12.9 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: United States
  8. Jewelry$12.9 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: Switzerland
  9. Bags, suitcases and cases$11.7 billion · 1.9%
    Main partner: China
  10. Perfumes$11.5 billion · 1.8%
    Main partner: United States

What it imports

Cars (5.8%) and refined petroleum (4.6%) together make up 10.5% of its imports.

  1. Cars$43.5 billion · 5.8%
    Main partner: Germany
  2. Refined petroleum$34.6 billion · 4.6%
    Main partner: Netherlands
  3. Natural gas and LPG$32.1 billion · 4.3%
    Main partner: Belgium
  4. Crude petroleum$29.2 billion · 3.9%
    Main partner: United States
  5. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$17.3 billion · 2.3%
    Main partner: Germany
  6. Auto parts$17.2 billion · 2.3%
    Main partner: Germany
  7. Vaccines, blood and antisera$12.6 billion · 1.7%
    Main partner: United States
  8. Cameras and broadcast equipment$12.4 billion · 1.7%
    Main partner: China
  9. Aircraft parts$12.2 billion · 1.6%
    Main partner: Germany
  10. Turbojets and gas turbines$9.8 billion · 1.3%
    Main partner: United States

Its products

Destinations and sources of its products that have their own page.

By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
84 · Mechanical machinery$71 billion$83.7 billion
87 · Vehicles$58.7 billion$78.8 billion
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$49.1 billion$15.9 billion
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$42.7 billion$68.1 billion
30 · Pharmaceuticals$40.6 billion$31.8 billion
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$30.9 billion$7.2 billion
27 · Oil, gas and coal$30.7 billion$99.7 billion
39 · Plastics$23.4 billion$29.2 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$22.5 billion$6.4 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$19.8 billion$12.3 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$18.7 billion$23.6 billion
72 · Iron and steel$14.7 billion$12.1 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$13 billion$13.2 billion
42 · Leather goods and bags$12.4 billion$5.2 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$11.8 billion$9.4 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$8.7 billion$6.4 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$8.2 billion$13.8 billion
10 · Cereals$7.7 billion$1.1 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$6.8 billion$10.2 billion
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$6.7 billion$5.6 billion
40 · Rubber$6.6 billion$8.5 billion
76 · Aluminum$6.6 billion$8.6 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$5.5 billion$5.9 billion
62 · Woven clothing$5 billion$12.6 billion
34 · Soap and cleaning products$4.4 billion$3.5 billion
74 · Copper$4.2 billion$4.9 billion
23 · Animal feed and food waste$4.1 billion$4.1 billion
21 · Food preparations$4.1 billion$4 billion
02 · Meat and offal$4.1 billion$7 billion
94 · Furniture and lighting$3.9 billion$12.8 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$3.8 billion$12.7 billion
97 · Art and antiques$3.7 billion$1.6 billion
70 · Glass$3.5 billion$4.3 billion
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$3.4 billion$5.5 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$3.3 billion$3.8 billion
44 · Wood$3.3 billion$5.9 billion
07 · Vegetables$3.2 billion$4.6 billion
64 · Footwear$3 billion$9 billion
17 · Sugar and sweets$2.9 billion$1.4 billion
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$2.7 billion$5.4 billion
12 · Oilseeds and grains$2.6 billion$2.1 billion
15 · Fats and oils$2.6 billion$3.8 billion
01 · Live animals$2.5 billion$399 million
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$2.3 billion$1.4 billion
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$2.2 billion$3.7 billion
91 · Watches and clocks$2.1 billion$3.4 billion
89 · Ships and boats$2.1 billion$5 billion
03 · Fish and seafood$1.8 billion$5.9 billion
95 · Toys and sports gear$1.5 billion$5.9 billion
49 · Books and printed matter$1.5 billion$1.9 billion
11 · Milling products and malt$1.5 billion$885 million
96 · Other manufactured goods$1.4 billion$1.8 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$1.4 billion$2.4 billion
16 · Prepared meat and fish$1.4 billion$3.5 billion
25 · Salt, stone and cement$1.4 billion$1.5 billion
08 · Fruit and nuts$1.3 billion$6.6 billion
82 · Tools and cutlery$1.3 billion$2.6 billion
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$1.3 billion$3.6 billion
75 · Nickel$1.3 billion$1.6 billion
53 · Other plant fibers$1.2 billion$125 million
86 · Railway equipment$1.1 billion$1.4 billion
81 · Other base metals$1.1 billion$1.8 billion
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$942 million$3.3 billion
47 · Wood pulp$896 million$1.3 billion
26 · Ores and slag$895 million$1.9 billion
13 · Gums and plant extracts$870 million$477 million
69 · Ceramics$806 million$2.4 billion
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$781 million$981 million
79 · Zinc$559 million$655 million
31 · Fertilizers$514 million$2.6 billion
59 · Coated and technical textiles$508 million$588 million
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$456 million$581 million
41 · Hides and leather$447 million$791 million
24 · Tobacco$418 million$1.4 billion
36 · Explosives and matches$409 million$194 million
54 · Synthetic filaments$373 million$744 million
65 · Hats$356 million$804 million
93 · Weapons and ammunition$323 million$328 million
05 · Other animal products$306 million$454 million
58 · Special fabrics and lace$303 million$240 million
52 · Cotton$283 million$432 million
92 · Musical instruments$239 million$340 million
60 · Knitted fabric$239 million$264 million
06 · Live plants and flowers$228 million$1.7 billion
78 · Lead$221 million$156 million
57 · Carpets and rugs$196 million$627 million
37 · Photographic goods$105 million$401 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$102 million$101 million
45 · Cork$92 million$308 million
51 · Wool$73 million$193 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$49 million$150 million
80 · Tin$46 million$124 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$30 million$193 million
66 · Umbrellas and canes$27 million$160 million
50 · Silk$25 million$103 million
14 · Other plant products$21 million$56 million

Trading partners

Germany is its main destination (11.2% of exports) and source (13.5% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
Germany70.311.2%Land
United States54.28.6%Air
Italy50.28%Land
Belgium46.17.3%Land
Spain40.26.4%Land
United Kingdom38.26.1%Sea
China29.34.7%Air
Netherlands23.13.7%Sea
Switzerland21.43.4%Land
Poland13.82.2%Sea

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
Germany10113.5%Land
China76.910.3%Sea
Belgium57.37.7%Land
Italy57.17.7%Land
Spain53.67.2%Land
United States49.66.6%Air
Netherlands35.14.7%Sea
United Kingdom28.63.8%Sea
Switzerland19.32.6%Land
Poland18.92.5%Sea

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, France accounted for 2.8% of world exports, compared with 5.5% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports grew 2.3-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 629
  • Imports 746
  • Balance -118

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$276.7 billion$278.6 billion-$1.9 billion
1996$283.5 billion$280.8 billion$2.7 billion
1997$284.3 billion$271.1 billion$13.1 billion
1998$301.4 billion$290.8 billion$10.6 billion
1999$304.1 billion$292.9 billion$11.2 billion
2000$302.2 billion$312.7 billion-$10.5 billion
2001$303.6 billion$304.5 billion-$878 million
2002$316.1 billion$316.3 billion-$219 million
2003$366.6 billion$369.2 billion-$2.6 billion
2004$421.6 billion$441.7 billion-$20.1 billion
2005$443.9 billion$482.5 billion-$38.5 billion
2006$496.6 billion$540.7 billion-$44.1 billion
2007$548.6 billion$616.4 billion-$67.8 billion
2008$612.2 billion$694.2 billion-$82 billion
2009$485.3 billion$547.2 billion-$61.9 billion
2010$516.2 billion$601.4 billion-$85.1 billion
2011$582.2 billion$708 billion-$125.8 billion
2012$569.1 billion$656.2 billion-$87.1 billion
2013$576.6 billion$656.6 billion-$80 billion
2014$589.3 billion$652.2 billion-$62.9 billion
2015$512.8 billion$560.1 billion-$47.3 billion
2016$507.5 billion$559.1 billion-$51.6 billion
2017$544.8 billion$610.6 billion-$65.9 billion
2018$581.9 billion$651.9 billion-$70 billion
2019$574.8 billion$633.4 billion-$58.6 billion
2020$489.8 billion$575.3 billion-$85.6 billion
2021$579.7 billion$705.3 billion-$125.7 billion
2022$625 billion$801.9 billion-$177 billion
2023$652 billion$784.9 billion-$132.9 billion
2024$628.5 billion$746.1 billion-$117.6 billion

World rank

France fell from 4th to 8th among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 4th in 1995
  • 8th in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
19954th
19964th
19974th
19984th
19995th
20005th
20015th
20025th
20035th
20045th
20055th
20065th
20075th
20085th
20095th
20105th
20116th
20126th
20136th
20145th
20156th
20166th
20176th
20186th
20196th
20206th
20218th
20227th
20236th
20248th

What it sells

Its top export group is still mechanical machinery: 11% in 2024

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 45%
  • Plastics 4%
  • Oil, gas and coal 5%
  • Perfumes and cosmetics 5%
  • Pharmaceuticals 6%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 7%
  • Aircraft and spacecraft 8%
  • Vehicles 9%
  • Mechanical machinery 11%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Mechanical machinery12.5%11.3%
Vehicles11.9%9.3%
Aircraft and spacecraft5.6%7.8%
Electrical and electronic equipment9.4%6.8%
Pharmaceuticals2.1%6.5%
Perfumes and cosmetics2.3%4.9%
Oil, gas and coal2.2%4.9%
Plastics3.8%3.7%
Other50.4%44.8%

Who it trades with

China went from 1% to 8% of France's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • Germany 12%
  • Italy 8%
  • China 8%
  • United States 8%
  • Belgium 8%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
Germany18.3%12.4%
Italy10.2%7.8%
China1.4%7.7%
United States6.8%7.6%
Belgium9%7.5%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • ArcelorMittal Dunkerque steel plantSteel · 7.4 Mt CO₂e
  • ArcelorMittal Méditerranée Fos sur Mer steel plantSteel · 4.8 Mt CO₂e
  • Brennilis power stationPower · 1.1 Mt CO₂e
View on the globe

Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Paris$1.1 trillion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Lyon$228.3 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Lille$214.4 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
View on the globe

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries