The following list shows the top 10 general product categories under which France racked up the severest trade deficits during 2014.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: -US$74.2 billion (42.1% of all product deficits)
2. Electronic equipment: -$11.4 billion (6.5%)
3. Vehicles : -$10.6 billion (6%)
4. Machinery: -$8.3 billion (4.7%)
5. Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$7 billion (4%)
6. Furniture, lighting , signs: -$6.5 billion (3.7%)
7. Clothing (not knit or crochet): -$5.7 billion (3.3%)
8. Footwear: -$4.5 billion (2.5%)
9. Organic chemicals: -$4.3 billion (2.4%)
10. Fish: -$3.7 billion (2.1%)

The above top 10 product categories represent 73.8% of France’s overall product-category deficit subtotal which amounted to -$184.4 billion. For that subtotal, 68 of France’s 97 general product categories incurred deficits in 2014 while the remaining 29 categories delivered surplus amounts.

France deepened its trade deficit amounts at the greatest-pace during 2010 to 2014 under the product categories below.

1. Glass: Up 720.3% since 2010 (-US$125 million)
2. Photo/cinematographic goods: Up 462.5% (-$148.6 million)
3. Inorganic chemicals: Up 245.4% (-$2.4 billion)
4. Wool: Up 150.4% (-$90.4 million)
5. Manmade filaments: Up 104% (-$342.1 million)
6. Meat: Up 65.7% (-$1.7 billion)
7. Other animal-origin products: Up 54.8% (-$213.7 million)
8. Other base metals: Up 53.8% (-$224.3 million)
9. Cotton: Up 45% (-$93.6 million)
10. Meat/seafood preparations: Up 43.3% (-$1.3 billion)

From the perspective of the more detailed 4-digit harmonized tariff system (HTS) level, below are 15 products that pushed France into the most costly deficits versus its international trade partners.

1. Crude oil: -US$38.9 billion
2. Processed petroleum oils: -$18.8 billion
3. Petroleum gases: -$17 billion
4. Cars: -$11.8 billion
5. Aircraft parts: -$8.8 billion
6. Computers, optical readers: -$7.2 billion
7. Phone system devices: -$6.3 billion
8. Hormones, miscellaneous steroids: -$3.1 billion
9. Miscellaneous furniture: -$2.9 billion
10. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: -$2.7 billion
11. Printing machinery: -$2.3 billion
12. Footwear (leather): -$2.2 billion
13. Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet): -$2.1 billion
14. Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs): -$2 billion
15. Coffee: -$1.9 billion

Among these, processed petroleum oils had the fastest-growing French deficit accelerating by 70.1% since 2010. In second place were hormones and miscellaneous steroids up 43.8% while negative net exports for coffee appreciated by 35.9%.

The following list presents trade partners with which France racked up the highest trade deficits in 2014.

1. China: -US$34.9 billion (23% of French country-specific deficits)
2. Germany: -$19.2 billion (12.6%)
3. Belgium: -$11.6 billion (7.7%)
4. Italy: -$7.1 billion (4.7%)
5. France: -$6.5 billion (4.2%)
6. Saudi Arabia: -$5.5 billion (3.6%)
7. United States: -$5.5 billion (3.6%)
8. Netherlands: -$5.3 billion (3.5%)
9. Ireland: -$5 billion (3.3%)
10. Russia: -$4.7 billion (3.1%)

The above 10 trade partners represent 69.1% of France’s subtotal deficit of $152.2 billion from the 93 geographic entities with which France demonstrated strong import demand. That subtotal excludes the 134 geographic entities with which France earned trade surpluses.

France grew its trade deficit amounts with the geographic entities below at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014, providing evidence of accelerating demand for exports from these international suppliers.

1. Portugal: Up 4,008% since 2010 (-US$1.3 billion)
2. Seychelles: Up 1,573% (-$77.7 million)
3. Greenland: Up 1,401% (-$2.4 million)
4. Bulgaria: Up 633.7% (-$331.6 million)
5. Zimbabwe: Up 534.2% (-$39.2 million)
6. Equatorial Guinea: Up 522% (-$856.8 million)
7. Cambodia: Up 400.7% (-$435.4 million)
8. Tunisia: Up 372.5% (-$900.8 million)
9. Sao Tome/Principe: Up 346.5% (-$1.4 million)
10. Tokelau: Up 306.2% (-$5.3 million)

From the above list, France mostly showed major product supply disadvantages versus this group of traders with comparatively small populations and for generally small deficit amounts. However, France did generate negative trade balances hovering beyond and around one billion dollars with Portugal, Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea.

Below are the products that resulted in the greatest French deficits in international trade with China.

1. Phone system devices: -US$6.3 billion (18% of France’s deficit vs. China)
2. Computers, optical readers: -$4.7 billion (13.5%)
3. Printing machinery: -$1.5 billion (4.3%)
4. Cases, handbags, wallets: -$1.4 billion (3.9%)
5. Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet): -$1.3 billion (3.8%)
6. Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys: -$1.3 billion (3.6%)
7. Women’s clothing (not knit or crochet): -$1.1 billion (3.1%)
8. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: -$1 billion (2.9%)
9. Footwear (rubber or plastic): -$968.8 million (2.8%)
10. Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs: -$833.6 million (2.4%)

Among these, phone system devices had the fastest-growing French deficit with China accelerating by 23.1% from 2010 to 2014. In second place were lamps, lighting and illuminated signs up 20% followed by rubber or plastic footwear increasing by 19.9%.

Below are the products that resulted in the greatest French deficits in international trade with Germany.

1. Cars: -US$7.2 billion (37.5% of France’s deficit vs. Germany)
2. Aircraft parts: -$4 billion (21%)
3. Petroleum gases: -$2.7 billion (13.8%)
4. Processed petroleum oils: -$1 billion (5.2%)
5. Heterocyclics, nucleic acids: -$548.7 million (2.9%)
6. Machinery parts: -$531.5 million (2.8%)
7. Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): -$527.1 million (2.7%)
8. Print/write/draw inks: -$512.4 million (2.7%)
9. Trucks: -$504.6 million (2.6%)
10. Piston engine parts: -$495.6 million (2.6%)

Among these, processed petroleum oils had the fastest-growing French deficit with Germany accelerating by 4,026% from 2010 to 2014. In second place were multi-purpose ink up 112.9% followed by heterocyclics and nucleic acids increasing by 32.6%.

Below are the products that resulted in the greatest French deficits in international trade with Belgium.

1. Petroleum gases: -US$13 billion (111.6% of France’s deficit vs. Belgium)
2. Flat-rolled stainless steel items: -$1.1 billion (9.3%)
3. Blood fractions (including antisera): -$933.4 million (8%)
4. Chocolate, other cocoa preparations: -$479.7 million (4.1%)
5. Processed petroleum oils: -$450.3 million (3.9%)
6. Ethylene polymers: -$419.8 million (3.6%)
7. Nitrogenous fertilizers: -$351.8 million (3%)
8. Hormones, miscellaneous steroids: -$351.6 million (3%)
9. Other prepared/preserved vegetables (frozen): -$338.4 million (2.9%)
10. Malt beer: -$265.6 million (2.3%)

Among these, miscellaneous frozen vegetables had the fastest-growing French deficit with Belgium accelerating by 34.5% from 2010 to 2014. In second place were chocolate and other cocoa preparations up 10.6% followed by malt beer increasing by 3%.