08.04.202607:04:51UTC+00France Trade Gap Widens More Than Expected

France’s trade deficit widened to €5.8 billion in February 2026, from an upwardly revised €2.0 billion in January, and exceeded market expectations of €2.4 billion. Exports declined by 0.9% month-on-month to €51.0 billion, weighed down by lower shipments of agricultural products (-2.8%), mechanical and electrical equipment (-0.5%), and natural hydrocarbons (-25.7%). These falls more than offset gains in refined petroleum (+15.8%) and other industrial products (+1.7%).

By destination, exports decreased to Asia (-8.1%) and the European Union (-0.6%), but increased to Africa (+5.6%), the Americas (+6.4%), and the Middle East (+2.2%).

Meanwhile, imports rose 5.0% to €58.5 billion, driven by higher purchases of mechanical and electrical equipment (+5.7%), transport equipment (+7.6%), and natural hydrocarbons (+23.1%), while imports of refined petroleum declined (-5.4%). Imports increased from Africa (+10.0%), the Americas (+7.7%), and Asia (+5.0%), with more moderate growth in flows from the Middle East (+1.2%) and the EU (+3.3%).