The French Republic shipped $569 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2018. That dollar metric reflects an 8.6% increase from 2017 to 2018 compared to a 0.8% improvement over the 5-year period starting in 2014.
From a continental perspective, 64.7% of French exports by value in 2018 were delivered to fellow European countries while 17.6% were sold to Asian importers. France shipped another 9.3% to North America with another 5.1% worth of French goods arriving in Africa. Smaller percentages went to Latin America (1.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and to Oceania (0.9%) led by Australia.
Given France’s population of 67.4 million people (including its five overseas regions), its total $569 billion in 2018 exports translates to roughly $8,400 for every resident in the Asian country.
France’s Top 10 Exports
Top 10
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in French global shipments during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from France.
At the more detailed Harmonized Tariff System code level, France’s most valuable exported products are large airplanes followed by therapeutic or prophylactic drugs and medicines then motor cars.
- Machinery including computers: US$67.7 billion (11.9% of total exports)
- Vehicles: $56.5 billion (9.9%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $51.8 billion (9.1%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $44.9 billion (7.9%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $33.8 billion (6%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $22.6 billion (4%)
- Perfumes, cosmetics: $19.7 billion (3.5%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $19.4 billion (3.4%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $18.7 billion (3.3%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $16.9 billion (3%)
France’s top 10 export categories accounted for over three-fifths (61.9%) of the overall value of its global shipments.
Among the 10 largest product categories, mineral fuels including oil was the fastest-growing via its 27.5% uptick from 2017 to 2018.
In second place was the machinery including computers category up by 11.3%.
Exports under the perfumes and cosmetics category rose by 10.9% year over year, trailed by vehicles’ 10.7% appreciation.
Aircraft and spacecraft was France’s slowest-growing top export category thanks to its 0.7% uptick from 2017 to 2018.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of France’s Most Valuable Export Products further down below.
Advantages
The following types of French product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Aircraft, spacecraft: US$30.8 billion (Up by 11.7% since 2017)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $14.6 billion (Up by 5.1%)
- Perfumes, cosmetics: $13.4 billion (Up by 12.4%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $8.6 billion (Up by 4.1%)
- Cereals: $6.3 billion (Up by 39%)
- Other chemical goods: $3.7 billion (Up by 19.9%)
- Leather/animal gut articles: $3.5 billion (Up by 26.1%)
- Ships, boats: $2.7 billion (Up by 123%)
- Dairy, eggs, honey: $2.5 billion (Down by -7.2%)
- Iron, steel: $2.4 billion (Up by 0.8%)
France has highly positive net exports in the international trade of aerospace products. In turn, these cashflows indicate France’s strong competitive advantages under the aircraft and spacecraft product category.
Opportunities
France incurred an estimated trade deficit equal to -$90.5 billion during 2018, up 0.8% from its -$89.7 negative trade balance during 2017.
Below are exports from France that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country France’s goods trail French importer spending on foreign products.
- Mineral fuels including oil: -US$55 billion (Up by 22.2% since 2017)
- Vehicles: -$17.4 billion (Up by 21.1%)
- Machinery including computers: -$16 billion (Down by -27.1%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -$13.3 billion (Up by 1.4%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: -$7.8 billion (Up by 11.5%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$6.4 billion (Up by 5.6%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$5.9 billion (Up by 2.4%)
- Organic chemicals: -$4.4 billion (Down by -9%)
- Footwear: -$4.2 billion (Down by -0.3%)
- Fruits, nuts: -$4.2 billion (Up by 10%)
France has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for mineral fuels-related resources, particularly crude and refined oils, petroleum gases and coal.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate France’s competitive disadvantages in the international fuel market, but also represent key opportunities for France to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations especially in alternative energy sources.
Companies
French Export Companies
France placed roughly 70 companies in the Forbes Global 2000 rankings. The following companies are examples of world-leading French companies:
- Total (oil, gas)
- Sanofi (pharmaceuticals)
- EADS (aerospace)
- Christian Dior (clothing, accessories)
- Schneider Electric (electrical equipment)
- Danone (food processing)
- Renault (cars, trucks)
- Saint-Gobain (construction materials)
- Air Liquide (specialized chemicals)
- Safran (aerospace)
- Michelin Group (automotive parts)
- Pernod Ricard (beverages)
Global trade intelligence firm Zepol lists the following smaller French exporters:
- Transityre France (latex, transmission belts, vehicle tires)
- Hesnault (wines, jams, cheese)
- Mane Fils (aromatic materials)
Searchable List of France’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, France’s top export products are aircraft or spacecraft followed by drugs and medicines, cars then automotive parts or accessories.
The following searchable table displays 200 of the most in-demand goods shipped from France during 2018. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2017.
| Rank | France's Export Product | 2018 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $43.5 billion | -1.3% |
| 2 | Medication mixes in dosage | $25.5 billion | +4.1% |
| 3 | Cars | $25.2 billion | +13.7% |
| 4 | Turbo-jets | $16.2 billion | +29.8% |
| 5 | Automobile parts/accessories | $15.7 billion | +1% |
| 6 | Wine | $11 billion | +7.3% |
| 7 | Processed petroleum oils | $10.6 billion | +21% |
| 8 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $9.6 billion | +11.9% |
| 9 | Trucks | $8.4 billion | +15.4% |
| 10 | Aircraft parts | $8.3 billion | +12.7% |
| 11 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $7.7 billion | +16% |
| 12 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $7.7 billion | +14.8% |
| 13 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $6.5 billion | +19.3% |
| 14 | Jewelry | $5.8 billion | +15.6% |
| 15 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $5.3 billion | +6.3% |
| 16 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $5.3 billion | +10.4% |
| 17 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $5.2 billion | +4% |
| 18 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $4.8 billion | +7.2% |
| 19 | Electrical energy | $4.2 billion | +51.3% |
| 20 | Wheat | $4.1 billion | +37.9% |
| 21 | Tractors | $4 billion | +21.6% |
| 22 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $3.7 billion | +3% |
| 23 | Cheese, curd | $3.7 billion | +6.2% |
| 24 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $3.2 billion | +15.6% |
| 25 | Engines (diesel) | $3 billion | -21.3% |
| 26 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $3 billion | +9.6% |
| 27 | Petroleum gases | $2.9 billion | +24.2% |
| 28 | Rubber tires (new) | $2.8 billion | +8.2% |
| 29 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $2.7 billion | +4% |
| 30 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $2.7 billion | +3.5% |
| 31 | Orthopedic appliances | $2.7 billion | +7.1% |
| 32 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $2.6 billion | +3.8% |
| 33 | Insulated wire/cable | $2.6 billion | +8.3% |
| 34 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $2.6 billion | +4.6% |
| 35 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $2.6 billion | +0.4% |
| 36 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $2.5 billion | +7.9% |
| 37 | Computers, optical readers | $2.5 billion | +8.9% |
| 38 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges | $2.4 billion | +180.4% |
| 39 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $2.4 billion | +9.1% |
| 40 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $2.4 billion | +10.7% |
| 41 | Anti-knock/oxidation/gum inhibitors | $2.4 billion | +4.9% |
| 42 | Iron or steel scrap | $2.4 billion | +16.2% |
| 43 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $2.3 billion | +2.4% |
| 44 | Air or vacuum pumps | $2.3 billion | +4% |
| 45 | Piston engine parts | $2.2 billion | +1.2% |
| 46 | Ethylene polymers | $2.2 billion | -8.8% |
| 47 | Piston engines | $2.1 billion | +59.3% |
| 48 | Machinery parts | $2.1 billion | +7.5% |
| 49 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $2.1 billion | +18.5% |
| 50 | Footwear (leather) | $2.1 billion | +10.5% |
| 51 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $2 billion | +7.2% |
| 52 | Flour/meal/starch/malt extract food preparations | $2 billion | +0.9% |
| 53 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $2 billion | +7.9% |
| 54 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $2 billion | +7.2% |
| 55 | Ball, roller bearings | $2 billion | +14.4% |
| 56 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $2 billion | +6.1% |
| 57 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $1.9 billion | +13.1% |
| 58 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $1.9 billion | +14.7% |
| 59 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $1.9 billion | +3.7% |
| 60 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $1.9 billion | +16.4% |
| 61 | Other food preparations | $1.8 billion | +1.9% |
| 62 | Live bovine cattle | $1.8 billion | +6.1% |
| 63 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $1.7 billion | +12.4% |
| 64 | Corn | $1.7 billion | +16% |
| 65 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $1.6 billion | +9.9% |
| 66 | Refrigerators, freezers | $1.6 billion | +2.7% |
| 67 | Miscellaneous machinery | $1.6 billion | +6.6% |
| 68 | Electrical converters/power units | $1.6 billion | +2.1% |
| 69 | Regulate/control instruments | $1.6 billion | -1.4% |
| 70 | Electric motors, generators | $1.5 billion | +4.6% |
| 71 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $1.5 billion | +5.3% |
| 72 | Unrecorded sound media | $1.5 billion | +8.6% |
| 73 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $1.5 billion | +2.8% |
| 74 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $1.5 billion | +4.6% |
| 75 | X-ray equipment | $1.4 billion | -4.4% |
| 76 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $1.4 billion | -1.1% |
| 77 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $1.4 billion | -0.3% |
| 78 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $1.4 billion | +2.2% |
| 79 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $1.4 billion | +2.7% |
| 80 | Acrylic polymers | $1.4 billion | +10% |
| 81 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $1.4 billion | +14.4% |
| 82 | Temperature-change machines | $1.4 billion | +16.7% |
| 83 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $1.4 billion | +20.8% |
| 84 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $1.4 billion | -1.3% |
| 85 | Miscellaneous furniture | $1.4 billion | +5.5% |
| 86 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $1.3 billion | +7.2% |
| 87 | Fork-lift trucks | $1.3 billion | +17.8% |
| 88 | Barley | $1.3 billion | +32.1% |
| 89 | Vulcanized rubber items | $1.3 billion | +8.7% |
| 90 | Printing machinery | $1.3 billion | +9.1% |
| 91 | Computer parts, accessories | $1.3 billion | +26.7% |
| 92 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $1.2 billion | +24.9% |
| 93 | Flat-rolled stainless steel items | $1.2 billion | +11.8% |
| 94 | Footwear (textile) | $1.2 billion | +34.2% |
| 95 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $1.2 billion | +7% |
| 96 | Lifting/loading machinery | $1.2 billion | +4.3% |
| 97 | Coffee | $1.2 billion | +9.5% |
| 98 | Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels | $1.2 billion | +4.4% |
| 99 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $1.1 billion | +11.9% |
| 100 | Gold (unwrought) | $1.1 billion | -7.4% |
| 101 | Wrist/pocket watches (precious metal case) | $1.1 billion | +2.4% |
| 102 | Other measuring/testing machines | $1.1 billion | +7.9% |
| 103 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $1.1 billion | +7.1% |
| 104 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $1.1 billion | +13.5% |
| 105 | Fresh or chilled beef | $1.1 billion | +7.5% |
| 106 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $1 billion | +7.9% |
| 107 | Wrist/pocket watches (no precious metal case) | $1 billion | -1.7% |
| 108 | Copper waste, scrap | $1 billion | +1.8% |
| 109 | Radar, radio communication items | $1 billion | -2.1% |
| 110 | Poultry meat | $1 billion | +5.2% |
| 111 | Cellulose fiber paper | $998.4 million | +9.6% |
| 112 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $982.3 million | -2.7% |
| 113 | Mineral, aerated waters | $979 million | +5.5% |
| 114 | Hair preparations | $977.7 million | +14.8% |
| 115 | Electric storage batteries | $977.6 million | +11.7% |
| 116 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $976.4 million | -0.1% |
| 117 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $968.5 million | +6.6% |
| 118 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $964.3 million | +2% |
| 119 | Uncoated paper | $931.2 million | +8.3% |
| 120 | Lubricants, cutting-oil preparations | $912.3 million | +5.7% |
| 121 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $893.9 million | +6.3% |
| 122 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $891.7 million | +2.8% |
| 123 | Swine meat | $891.5 million | -4.3% |
| 124 | Styrene polymers | $875.9 million | +4.7% |
| 125 | Tracksuits, swimwear (not knit or crochet) | $856.3 million | -0.4% |
| 126 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $838.9 million | +7.5% |
| 127 | Sports equipment | $834.8 million | +14.6% |
| 128 | Bottles, flasks, jars, pots | $828.6 million | +11.6% |
| 129 | Miscellaneous aluminum items | $828.4 million | +5.1% |
| 130 | Hand-drawn paintings, drawings | $828.3 million | -0.7% |
| 131 | Iron or steel tubes, pipes | $816 million | +10.2% |
| 132 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $800.5 million | +35.3% |
| 133 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $783.5 million | +12.1% |
| 134 | Personal toilet/shaving preparations, deodorants | $775.2 million | +5% |
| 135 | Concentrated/sweetened milk, cream | $771.3 million | -11.9% |
| 136 | Polyamides | $770.3 million | +11.3% |
| 137 | Not concentrated/unsweetened milk, cream | $765.7 million | +1.6% |
| 138 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $758.6 million | +13.9% |
| 139 | Radioactive chemical elements | $753 million | -16.5% |
| 140 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $751.7 million | +9.1% |
| 141 | Glassware | $750.8 million | +5.3% |
| 142 | Copper wire | $739.1 million | +9% |
| 143 | Coated paper | $736.1 million | +2.1% |
| 144 | Rape/colza seeds | $728.5 million | -0.3% |
| 145 | Paint/varnish non-aqueous solution | $724.9 million | +7.4% |
| 146 | Printed books, brochures | $722.5 million | +5.2% |
| 147 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $718 million | -2.7% |
| 148 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $712.4 million | +11.6% |
| 149 | Navigational aids, compasses | $687.9 million | -6.5% |
| 150 | Trailers | $671.8 million | +3.4% |
| 151 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $671.8 million | +10.4% |
| 152 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $671.7 million | -12.8% |
| 153 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $655.1 million | +19.4% |
| 154 | Sowing seeds, fruits, spores | $646.8 million | -5.7% |
| 155 | Ethyl alcohol | $646.3 million | +10.5% |
| 156 | Filament/discharge lamps | $645.7 million | -2.7% |
| 157 | Potatoes | $642 million | +7.6% |
| 158 | Footwear (rubber or plastic) | $641.7 million | +15.8% |
| 159 | Synthetic rubber | $633.7 million | -6.2% |
| 160 | Leather clothing, accessories | $629.1 million | +22% |
| 161 | Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods | $619 million | +25% |
| 162 | Glass fibers | $615.9 million | +2% |
| 163 | Butter, other milk fats/oils | $614.6 million | +5.6% |
| 164 | Buttermilk, yogurt | $613.3 million | +4.4% |
| 165 | Print/write/draw inks | $611.9 million | -5.4% |
| 166 | Air conditioners | $611.2 million | +7.9% |
| 167 | Biodiesel | $611.1 million | +72.3% |
| 168 | Women's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $605.7 million | +21.9% |
| 169 | Tissues, napkins, toilet paper | $604.3 million | +7.4% |
| 170 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $590.7 million | +9% |
| 171 | Miscellaneous meat (preserved/prepared) | $589.6 million | +8.7% |
| 172 | Apples, pears (fresh) | $584.5 million | -4.2% |
| 173 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $582.6 million | -15.6% |
| 174 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $582.1 million | +16.5% |
| 175 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $579.5 million | +26.1% |
| 176 | Ice cream, edible ice | $576.1 million | +17.7% |
| 177 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $569.2 million | +2% |
| 178 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $567.3 million | +15.2% |
| 179 | Railway/tram locomotives, rolling stock | $564.3 million | +22.8% |
| 180 | Industrial preparation machinery | $561.5 million | -3.5% |
| 181 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $552.4 million | +21.6% |
| 182 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $542.1 million | +11.1% |
| 183 | Soil preparation machinery | $541 million | +10.2% |
| 184 | Petroleum resins | $530.1 million | +6.7% |
| 185 | Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation) | $529.9 million | +12.2% |
| 186 | Shawls, scarves | $528.8 million | +21.8% |
| 187 | Coated/laminated non-wovens | $527.7 million | +9.2% |
| 188 | Stone/other mineral substance items | $524.7 million | +10.3% |
| 189 | Whey | $523.3 million | -8% |
| 190 | Essential oils | $522.1 million | +10.8% |
| 191 | Casks, barrels, vats, tubs | $509.5 million | +4.7% |
| 192 | Motorcycles | $508.9 million | +11.4% |
| 193 | Ethers | $505.6 million | +7.1% |
| 194 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $500.7 million | -12.4% |
| 195 | Public-transport vehicles | $498.8 million | +41.3% |
| 196 | Imitation jewelry | $495.7 million | +13.8% |
| 197 | Other machine parts, accessories | $495.1 million | +2.2% |
| 198 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $491.5 million | +4.1% |
| 199 | Iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods | $489.7 million | +12.5% |
| 200 | Other prepared/preserved vegetables (non-frozen) | $489.7 million | +6% |
These 200 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$453 billion or about four-fifths (79.7%) by value for all products exported from France during 2018.
In macroeconomic terms, France’s total exported goods represent 19.2% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2018 ($2.963 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 19.2% for exports to overall GDP in PPP for 2018 compares to 21.7% for 2014, seeming to indicate a relatively decreasing reliance on products sold on international markets for France’s total economic performance. And while this article focuses on exported goods, it is interesting to note that France also provided $291.5 billion worth of exports-related services to global customers for an additional 9.8% of GDP in PPP.
Another key indicator of a country’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. France’s unemployment rate was 8.6% at September 2019 down from 9.1% in June 2018, according to Trading Economics.
France’s capital city is Paris.
See also France’s Top 10 Major Export Companies, France’s Top 10 Imports and France’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on January 15, 2020
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on January 15, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on January 15, 2020
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on January 15, 2020
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on January 15, 2020
Wikipedia, List of Companies of France. Accessed on January 15, 2020
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on January 15, 2020
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on January 15, 2020