France Balance of Trade

Last Release

Apr 30, 2025

Actual

-7,968.5

Units In

EUR Million

-6,248

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Jul 04, 2025

Time to Release

26 Days 0 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
2,674 Oct 1997	-17,486.7 Sep 2022	-1,971.53 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

France’s trade deficit widened to €8 billion in April 2025 from an upwardly revised €6.3 billion in March, exceeding market expectations of a €6 billion gap. This marks the largest trade shortfall since last September, as exports dropped 5.9% month-over-month to €49.3 billion, weighed down by a sharp decline in sales of refined petroleum products and coke (-17.6%), as well as transport equipment (-17.4%). Exports fell across most regions, including the EU (-3.2%), Africa (-1.9%), the Americas (-5.3%), and Asia (-5.4%), while exports to the Middle East increased (+4%). Meanwhile, imports declined at a slower pace of 2.4% to €57.2 billion, due largely to reduced purchases of natural hydrocarbons (-20.8%) and refined petroleum products and coke (-11.3%). Regionally, imports fell from the EU (-0.6%), Africa (-10.8%), the Middle East (-1.3%), and Asia (-4.1%), while imports from the Americas rose (+1.9%).