globaltraffic.earth

Trade between China and France

In 2024, China exported $76.9 billion to France and imported $29.3 billion. China ran a surplus of $47.6 billion with France, compared with a surplus of $32.6 billion in 2019. France was China’s 18th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and China was France’s 3rd (8%).

Summary

China → France
$76.9billion
France → China
$29.3billion
China’s balance
$47.6billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with France

Trade between China and France grew 13.2-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 76.9
  • Imports 29.3
  • Balance +47.6

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$5.2 billion$2.8 billion$2.3 billion
1996$5.9 billion$2.5 billion$3.3 billion
1997$6.5 billion$3.6 billion$2.9 billion
1998$7.2 billion$3.5 billion$3.7 billion
1999$8 billion$3.7 billion$4.3 billion
2000$9.4 billion$3.7 billion$5.7 billion
2001$9.6 billion$3.6 billion$6 billion
2002$10.5 billion$4.1 billion$6.4 billion
2003$14.8 billion$5.8 billion$9 billion
2004$20.2 billion$7.2 billion$13 billion
2005$25.4 billion$8.3 billion$17.1 billion
2006$29.6 billion$10.7 billion$19 billion
2007$38.5 billion$12.9 billion$25.6 billion
2008$45.3 billion$14.5 billion$30.8 billion
2009$41 billion$12 billion$29 billion
2010$48.6 billion$15.5 billion$33.1 billion
2011$56.4 billion$19.9 billion$36.5 billion
2012$53.2 billion$21.1 billion$32.1 billion
2013$53.5 billion$20.4 billion$33.1 billion
2014$55.9 billion$23.5 billion$32.4 billion
2015$51.6 billion$21.4 billion$30.2 billion
2016$50.6 billion$18.8 billion$31.8 billion
2017$54.9 billion$22.9 billion$32.1 billion
2018$58 billion$26.8 billion$31.2 billion
2019$58.7 billion$26.1 billion$32.6 billion
2020$41.4 billion$22.9 billion$18.4 billion
2021$48.2 billion$31.7 billion$16.5 billion
2022$51.6 billion$29 billion$22.6 billion
2023$78.4 billion$31.1 billion$47.3 billion
2024$76.9 billion$29.3 billion$47.6 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to France

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Cameras and broadcast equipment$6 billion · 7.7%
    16 thousand tonnes
  2. Computers$5.4 billion · 7%
    25 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  3. Computer and office machine parts$2.1 billion · 2.7%
    54 thousand tonnes
  4. Batteries$1.9 billion · 2.5%
    88 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  5. Cars$1.9 billion · 2.5%
    117 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  6. Electric heaters and hair dryers$1.4 billion · 1.8%
    171 thousand tonnes
  7. Bags, suitcases and cases$1.3 billion · 1.7%
    102 thousand tonnes
  8. Transformers and power supplies$1.3 billion · 1.7%
    40 thousand tonnes
  9. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$1.2 billion · 1.6%
    391 thousand tonnes
  10. Cargo and cruise ships$1.2 billion · 1.6%
    738 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations

What France sells to China

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Turbojets and gas turbines$2.8 billion · 9.5%
    1 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  2. Makeup and skin care$2.4 billion · 8.3%
    29 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  3. Airplanes and helicopters$2.3 billion · 7.8%
    2 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  4. Bags, suitcases and cases$2 billion · 7%
    1 thousand tonnes
  5. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$1.5 billion · 5.1%
    8 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  6. Jewelry$1.2 billion · 4.1%
    22 tonnes · France’s destinations
  7. Spirits$901 million · 3.1%
    28 thousand tonnes
  8. Vaccines, blood and antisera$806 million · 2.8%
    461 tonnes · France’s destinations
  9. Raw flax$617 million · 2.1%
    89 thousand tonnes
  10. Wheat$543 million · 1.9%
    1.9 million tonnes · France’s destinations

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shanghai to Le Havre.

The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Le Havre is 13,984 nautical miles (25,898 km) long: ≈ 32.5–41.5 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore and the Cape of Good Hope (13,984 nautical miles); and 15% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar (10,470 nautical miles).

Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$64.8 billion · 61%
  2. Air$41.4 billion · 39%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

France was China’s 18th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and China was France’s 3rd (8%).

France in China’s trade
1.9%
France’s rank among China’s partners
18th
China in France’s trade
7.7%
China’s rank among France’s partners
3rd

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of France

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. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.