Top French Exports & Imports

Most Popular Products Traded Between France & America

Aug 26, 2007
Daniel Workman

Vineyards in France - missyredboots@MORGUEFILE.COM (124895)

Sugar, diamonds & oil field equipment are fastest-growing French exports to the U.S. while civilian aircraft engines lead American imports into France.

With a population of some 61 million, France exported US$37.1 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 9.8% from 2005 and up 31.5% in 4 years.

French imports from the U.S. rose 8.1% to $24.2 billion in 2006, up 27.4% since 2002.

In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade deficit with France was $12.9 billion in 2006, up 40.2% from 2002. The U.S. trade deficit with France increased 13.2% in 2006 – up from the 10.7% deficit increase in 2005 from the year earlier.

French Exports to U.S.

Of the $37.1 billion in American imports from France in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

Medicinal, dental and pharmaceutical preparations …US$4.5 billion (12% of France to U.S. exports, down 0.3% from 2005)
Civilian aircraft (complete) … $3.7 billion (9.9%, up 95.3%)
Civilian aircraft engines … $3.0 billion (8%, up 9.2%)
Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $1.974 billion (5.3%, up 20.1%)
Other petroleum products … $1.967 billion (5.3%, up 54.3%)
Alcoholic beverages other than wine … $1.4 billion (3.7%, up 13.6%)
Wine & related products … $1.3 billion (3.6%, up 20.1%)
Cosmetics & toiletries… $1.2 billion (3.3%, up 3%)
Automotive parts & accessories … $1 billion (2.7%, down 12.5%)
Goods returned to U.S. then reimported … $965.8 million (2.6%, up 9.2%)

Fastest-Growing French Exports to U.S.

Below are American imports from France in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

Cane & beet sugar … US$4.4 million (up 627% from 2005)
Diamonds … $32.9 million (up 131%)
Oil field platforms & equipment … $78.2 million (up 106%)
Civilian aircraft (complete) … $3.7 billion (up 95.3%)
Marine engines & parts … $32.5 million (up 32.5%)

French Imports from U.S.

Of the $24.2 billion in American exports to France in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

Civilian aircraft engines … US$3.5 billion (14.4% of France from U.S. imports, down 0.8% from 2005)
Pharmaceutical preparations … $2.0 billion (8.4%, down 11.5%)
Civilian aircraft (complete) … $1.96 billion (8.1%, up 36.2%)
Civilian aircraft parts … $1.6 billion (6.5%, up 6.1%)
Medicinal equipment … $1 billion (4.2%, up 5.4%)
Industrial machines … $768.7 million (3.2%, up 11.1%)
Organic chemicals … $720.1 million (3%, up 22%)
Computer accessories … $706.1 million (2.9%, up 1.1%)
Measuring, testing control instruments … $703.8 million (2.9%, up 29.7%)
Minimum value shipments … $593.6 million (2.5%, up 8.7%)