France Trade Statistics 2009

Major French Exports Include Liquor, Wine and Cosmetics

Mar 16, 2010
Daniel Workman

Wines Imported from France - svadilfari (Flickr)

With sales of French exports down in 2009, France still has significant competitive advantages that resulted in a $7.5 billion trade surplus over America last year.

In 2009, the value of French exports to the world dipped by 24.1% to an estimated US$456.8 billion from $601.9 billion in 2008. Based on 2008 statistics, top trade customers for French shipments are Germany (about 14.4% of total), Italy (8.7%), Spain (8.3%), United Kingdom (7.8%), Belgium (7.6%), United States (5.8%) and Netherlands (4.1%).

France imported a hefty $532.2 billion worth of products from the rest of world in 2009, 23.1% less than the $692 billion in imports during 2008. Major suppliers of French imports are Germany (17.8%), Belgium (11.7%), Italy (8.2%), Spain (6.8%), Netherlands (6.8%), United Kingdom (5.1%) and United States (4.3%).

France’s global trade deficit was $75.4 billion for 2009, a 16.3% improvement over the $90.1 billion shortfall in 2008.

France’s Trade with USA in 2009

According to the latest US Census Bureau statistics, the value of French exports to the U.S. fell 22.7% to $34 billion in 2009.

France imported $26.5 billion worth of American goods in 2009, down 8% from $28.8 billion in the prior year.

France posted a $7.5 billion surplus trading with the U.S. during 2009. That figure is half France’s $15.2-billion trade surplus with America in 2008.

Major Exports from France

Among the 10 leading shipments from France to America, 9 product categories had losses from 2008 ranging from 9.3% for civilian aircraft engines to 59.5% for other petroleum products.

Pharmaceutical preparations … US$4.8 billion, down 16.8% from 2008 (14% of exports)
Civilian aircraft engines… $3.8 billion, down 9.3% (11.2%)
Complete civilian aircraft … $3 billion, down 24.4% (8.8%)
Alcoholic beverages other than wine … $1.35 billion, down 13% (4%)
Other petroleum products … $1.34 billion, down 59.5% (3.9%)
Civilian aircraft parts … $1.22 billion, up 10.3% (3.6%)
Toiletries and cosmetics … $1.2 billion, down 21.4% (3.5%)
Antiques, artwork and other collectibles … $1.19 billion, down 42.4% (3.5%)
Wine and related products … $992.7 million, down 32% (2.9%)
Other industrial machinery … $794.1 million, down 17.1% (2.3%).

Fastest-Growing French Exports

Below are 10 of the fastest-growing products that France shipped to the U.S. during 2009.

Numismatic (collectible) coins … US$92.7 million, up 356.6% from 2008
Non-military spacecraft … $4.4 million, up178.3%
Computers … $64.8 million, up 64%
Military aircraft and parts … $187.1 million, up 26.8%
Fish and shellfish … $17.4 million, up 26.5%
Other military equipment … $61 million, up 22.8%
Zinc … $8.2 million, up 22.6%
Miscellaneous imports including movies … $15 million, up 14.1%
Other materials including hair and waste … $9.4 million, up 12.6%
Civilian aircraft parts … $1.22 billion, up 10.3%.

Major French Imports from U.S.

Civilian aircraft products accounted for about a third of American exports to France in 2009. While that leading category of French imports from the U.S. was up by double-digits last year, 6 of the other 10 products below had declining sales from 2008.

Complete civilian aircraft and parts … US$8.6 billion, up 19.4% from 2008 (32.3% of imports)
Pharmaceutical preparations … $2.5 billion, up 2.6% (9.5%)
Medicinal equipment … $1.1 billion, down 3.9% (4.3%)
Organic chemicals… $787.6 million, up 12.8% (3%)
Antiques, artwork and other collectibles … $741.9 million, down 38.7% (2.8%)
Other industrial machines … $682.7 million, down 17% (2.6%)
Industrial engines … $646.2 million, up 7.3% (2.43%)
Telecommunications equipment … $624 million, down 10.4% (2.4%)
Other chemicals … $600.7 million, down 17.7% (2.3%)
Fuel oil … $514.7 million, down 31.6% (1.9%).

Fastest-Growing Imports into France from America

Among the leading growth exports from the U.S. to France in 2009, niche products from a wide range of industries had the strongest gains.

Non-military spacecraft … US$13.9 million, up 138,820% from 2008
Specialized mining products … $6.6 million, up112.3%
Natural gas liquids … $57.9 million, up 107%
Armored vehicles and military trucks … $14.2 million, up 89.9%
Bakery products … $8.7 million, up 89.3%
Rugs … $3.6 million, up 65.4%
Audio and visual tapes … $4.6 million, up 57.8%
Military aircraft engines and turbines … $38.5 million, up 54.7%
Coal … $170.3 million, up 31%
Televisions, VCRs and DVD players … $48.7 million, up 19.9%.

France's Competitive Trade Advantages and Disadvantages

Economists use net exports to identify the competitive strengths by national and by product. Net exports equal the total amount of exports minus imports.

For example, France exported $1.35 billion worth of alcoholic beverages other than wine to the U.S. while importing $80 million worth of American liquor. Therefore, France had net exports of $955 million and a clear competitive trade advantage in the liquor trade.

France’s had an even stronger competitive advantage in trading wine with the U.S. France shipped $992.7 million worth of wine to America while importing only $9.7 million worth of American wine in 2009. French net exports of wine amounted to $985 million.

The U.S. held competitive trade advantages in several product categories, notably medicinal equipment. The U.S. exported $1.1 billion worth of hospital, medical and scientific equipment to France, while in return France supplied only $573.8 worth of comparable shipments to the U.S.

France net exports of medicinal equipment traded with the U.S. was negative $526.2 million. That rather large negative statistic indicates that France has a competitive trade disadvantage for this product category.

Sources:This analysis is based on latest statistics from the US Census Bureau - Foreign Trade Statistics and CIA World Factbook as of the date of article publication.