France exported US$626.2 billion worth of products around the world in 2024. That dollar amount results from a 30.9% upturn from $478.3 billion five years earlier in 2020.
Year over year, the overall value of goods exported from France dropped by -1.8% compared to $637.7 billion for 2023.
The 5 biggest importers of products exported by France are Germany, Italy, United States of America, Belgium and Spain. Collectively, that quintet of major international customers paid for approached half (45.1%) of France’s total export sales in 2024.
Applying a continental lens, nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of France’s exports by value was delivered to fellow European countries while 17.3% was sold to importers in Asia. France shipped another 9.5% worth of products to buyers in North America.
Smaller percentages went to customers in Africa (4.9%), Latin America (1.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean then Oceania (1%) led by Australia.
Also, note that 54.5% of France’s exports sold in 2024 were bought by countries that are also members of the European Union. That percentage lags the 55.9% for 2025.
France’s Top Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 25 of France’s top trading partners, countries that imported the most French shipments by dollar value during 2024. Also shown is each importing country’s percentage of total French exports.
- Germany: US$83.5 billion (13.3% of total French exports)
- Italy: $51.9 billion (8.3%)
- United States of America: $51 billion (8.1%)
- Belgium: $48.7 billion (7.8%)
- Spain: $47.3 billion (7.5%)
- United Kingdom: $40 billion (6.4%)
- mainland China: $25.8 billion (4.1%)
- Netherlands: $24.9 billion (4%)
- Switzerland: $21 billion (3.4%)
- Poland: $16.3 billion (2.6%)
- Türkiye: $13.3 billion (2.1%)
- Japan: $9.9 billion (1.6%)
- India: $8.2 billion (1.3%)
- Portugal: $8.03 billion (1.3%)
- Singapore: $8.01 billion (1.3%)
- Morocco: $7.7 billion (1.2%)
- South Korea: $7.3 billion (1.2%)
- Czech Republic: $6.9 billion (1.1%)
- United Arab Emirates: $6.8 billion (1.1%)
- Sweden: $6.2 billion (1%)
- Ireland: $6 billion (1%)
- Romania: $5.7 billion (0.9%)
- Austria: $5.6 billion (0.9%)
- Hong Kong: $5.24 billion (0.8%)
- Algeria: $5.18 billion (0.8%)
Over four-fifths (83.1%) of French exports in 2024 was delivered to the above 25 trade partners.
The greatest increases in importing France’s shipments belong to Japan (up 37.4% from 2023), United Arab Emirates (up 26.1%), Morocco (up 12.7%), South Korea (up 12.6%), then the United States of America (up 7.3%).
Posting double-digit percentage declines were customers in Singapore (down -24.5% from 2023), Ireland (down -24.2%) and Sweden (down -11.2%).
Countries Causing France’s Worst Trade Deficits
France recorded an overall -US$113.1 billion trade deficit in 2024, reducing by -19.1% from -$139.7 billion in red ink one year earlier in 2023.
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, a given export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
France incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- mainland China: -US$50.1 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2024)
- Germany: -$9.5 billion
- Belgium: -$8 billion
- France: -$7.3 billion
- Netherlands: -$7 billion
- Vietnam: -$5.9 billion
- United States of America: -$5.6 billion
- Nigeria: -$4.2 billion
- Bangladesh: -$4.1 billion
- Spain: -$3.7 billion
Among France’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, French deficits with Vietnam (up 3.9%), Germany (up 2.7%) and Nigeria (up 2.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate France’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for France to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Countries Generating France’s Best Trade Surpluses
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
In 2024, France incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.
- United Kingdom: US$11.1 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2024)
- Singapore: $5.2 billion
- Hong Kong: $4.64 billion
- United Arab Emirates: $4.63 billion
- Greece: $3.2 billion
- Australia: $2.8 billion
- Switzerland: $2.1 billion
- Türkiye: $1.6 billion
- Luxembourg: $1.4 billion
- Malta: $1.3 billion
Among France’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, French surpluses with Türkiye (up 167.6%), Malta (up 87.5%) and the United Arab Emirates (up 59.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate France’s competitive advantages with the above countries but also represent key opportunities for France to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Examples of French Companies Servicing Trading Partners
France placed 69 companies in the Forbes Global 2000 rankings. Below is a sample of the major French companies that Forbes included.
- Air Liquide (specialized chemicals)
- Christian Dior (clothing, accessories)
- Danone (food processing)
- EADS (aerospace)
- Michelin Group (automotive parts)
- Pernod Ricard (beverages)
- Renault (cars, trucks)
- Safran (aerospace)
- Saint-Gobain (construction materials)
- Sanofi (pharmaceuticals)
- Schneider Electric (electrical equipment)
- Total (oil, gas)
See also France’s Top 10 Major Export Companies, France’s Top 10 Imports and France’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on March 28, 2025
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 28, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 28, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 28, 2025
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on March 28, 2025
Wikopedia, List of Companies of France. Accessed on March 28, 2025