France’s Top 10 Major Export Companies

Below are some of France’s biggest export companies organized by asset value. Shown within parentheses is the primary industry in which each company operates. Also shown is the change in asset value as of December 2018 compared to 2017.

1. Total (oil, gas): US$257 billion, up 11.3% from 2017
2. Renault (car/trucker maker): $132 billion, up 22.6%
3. Sanofi (pharmaceuticals): $119.9 billion, up 8.6%
4. Christian Dior (clothing, accessories): $87.4 billion, up 28%
5. Peugeot (car/trucker maker): $69.8 billion, up 44.8%
6. Danone (processed food, drinks): $53.2 billion, up 14.8%
7. Saint-Gobain (construction materials): $51.5 billion, up 11.5%
8. Schneider Electric (electrical equipment): $47.9 billion, up 8.6%
9. L’Oreal Group (household, personal care): $42.4 billion, up 12.8%
10. Hermès International (clothing, accessories): $8.1 billion, up 5.2%

All of these large French multinationals grew their asset values from 2017 to December 2018 led by Peugeot (up 44.8%), Christian Dior (up 28%), Renault (up 22.6%) then food and beverage seller Danone.

Single-digit improvements in asset size belong to Hermès International (up 5.2%), Sanofi (up 8.6%) and Schneider Electric (up 8.6%).

Sales is the life blood of most businesses, and particularly for firms that compete in international trade. Five of France’s largest exports-oriented companies posted double-digit gains in their year-over-year sales as of December 2018.

1. Total: US$155.8 billion, up 21.6% from 2017
2. Peugeot: $73.6 billion, up 23.1%
3. Renault: $66.3 billion, up 16.9%
4. Christian Dior: $49.3 billion, up 12.8%
5. Saint-Gobain: $46 billion, up 6.5%
6. Sanofi: $39.5 billion, up 5.6%
7. L’Oreal Group: $29.4 billion, up 2.8%
8. Schneider Electric: $27.9 billion, up 2.2%
9. Danone: $27.8 billion, up 14.5%
10. Hermès International: $6.3 billion, up 0.4%

Posting the strongest increase in year-over-year sales was automaker Peugeot (up 23.1%) followed by energy sector competitor Total (up 21.6%), another automotive sector player Renault (up 16.9%), food and drink processor Danone (up 14.5%) then fashion icon Christian Dior (up 12.8%).

Among the remaining top companies garnering single-digit gains, the three laggards were Hermès International (up 0.4%), Schneider Electric (up 2.2%) and L’Oréal Group (up 2.8%).

Nine of France’s top major export companies managed to remain profitable as of December 2018.

1. Total: US$8.4 billion, up 35.5% from 2017
2. Renault: $5.8 billion, up 52.6%
3. Sanofi: $4.3 billion, down -17.3%
4. L’Oreal Group: $4.3 billion, up 26.5%
5. Danone: $2.8 billion, up 47.4%
6. Christian Dior: $2.5 billion, up 25%
7. Schneider Electric: $2.4 billion, up 26.3%
8. Peugeot: $2.2 billion, up 15.8%
9. Saint-Gobain: $1.8 billion, up 20%
10. Hermès International: $1.4 billion, up 1%

Accelerating its profits at the fastest pace from 2017 to December 2018 was automaker Renault thanks to its 52.6% gain in black ink year over year. In second place was Danone (up 47.4%) trailed by oil and gas player Total (up 35.5%).

The sole decliner was global pharmaceuticals supplier Sanofi which experienced a -17.3% drop compared to 2017.

Six of France’s top 10 major export companies have their headquarters located in the capital city of Paris, with two other mammoth companies based in the nearby community of Courbevoie.

1. Christian Dior: Paris
2. Danon: Paris
3. Hermès International: Paris
4. L’Oreal Group: Paris
5. Peugeot: Paris
6. Renault: Boulogne-Billancourt
7. Saint-Gobain: Courbevoie
8. Sanofi: Paris
9. Schneider Electric: Rueil-Malmaison
10. Total: Courbevoie