2025.04.0807:05:49UTC+00France Trade Deficit Exceeds Forecasts

In February 2025, France's trade deficit increased to €7.9 billion, rising from €6.5 billion in January and surpassing market predictions of €5.4 billion. This represents the most significant trade deficit since the previous September. The expansion of the gap was primarily due to a 2.4% rise in imports, reaching €57.5 billion. Notable increases occurred in the importation of publishing and communication products (+13.8%), transport equipment (+7.2%), and natural hydrocarbons (+5.2%). Import growth was observed across all key regions: the Middle East (+15.7%), the European Union (+5.6%), Asia (+1.1%), and America (+0.8%). Conversely, export levels remained steady at €49.7 billion, as improvements in agricultural, forestry, and fishing products (+8.7%) and natural hydrocarbons (+3.1%) were counterbalanced by declines in transport equipment (-4.9%) and refined petroleum products and coke (-2.2%). Export activity experienced a decline to the EU (-1.4%) and the Middle East (-7.3%), while it increased to America (+8%), Asia (+4.4%), and Africa (+3.3%).