To give some international trade perspective on the selected companies’ performance, the overall value of French exported goods increased by 0.3% from US$566.7 billion in 2014 to $568.4 billion during 2018. From 2017 to 2018, France’s exports appreciated by 8.6%.
In the analysis below, we compare 10 of France’s top exports-oriented companies based on asset values, sales and profitability as of December 2018. Also presented is the French city where each business has its headquarters.
France’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
- Assets
- Sales
- Profit
- Headquarters
Assets
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.
- Total (oil, gas): US$257 billion, up 11.3% from 2017
- Renault (car/trucker maker): $132 billion, up 22.6%
- Sanofi (pharmaceuticals): $119.9 billion, up 8.6%
- Christian Dior (clothing, accessories): $87.4 billion, up 28%
- Peugeot (car/trucker maker): $69.8 billion, up 44.8%
- Danone (processed food, drinks): $53.2 billion, up 14.8%
- Saint-Gobain (construction materials): $51.5 billion, up 11.5%
- Schneider Electric (electrical equipment): $47.9 billion, up 8.6%
- L’Oreal Group (household, personal care): $42.4 billion, up 12.8%
- 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
Profit
Headquarters
Note: Some of the above company offerings may include products other than the principal category shown within parenthesis under the Assets tab.
For example, Schneider Electric sells industrial engineering equipment, minerals, metals, food and beverages. The company also provides automation, control and cooling services as well as data centers and water treatment.
See also France’s Top 10 Exports, France’s Top 10 Imports and France’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Data.World Forbes Global 2000 2016 , Spreadsheet for 2016 Global 2000 rankings. Accessed on October 10, 2019
Forbes Global 2000 individual company profiles, Example of top French company compiled for this study: Total. Accessed on October 10, 2019
Forbes Global 2000 rankings for France, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 10, 2019
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 10, 2019
Wikipedia, Category: Companies of France. Accessed on October 10, 2019
Wikipedia, List of companies of France. Accessed on October 10, 2019