France Trade Gap Widens Beyond Expectations

2025-11-07 08:20 By Kyrie Dichosa 1 min. read

France's trade deficit widened to €6.6 billion in September 2025, the largest in three months, from €5.2 billion in August and above forecasts of €5.9 billion.

Exports grew only 0.1% from a month earlier to €51.9 billion, as gains in refined petroleum products (+19.0%), mechanical equipment (+6.1%), and agricultural products (+1.6%) were almost entirely offset by declines in transport equipment (-8.6%) and natural hydrocarbons (-20.9%).

By region, exports increased to the EU (+4.1%) and Asia (+0.9%), while shipments to the Middle East (-22.5%) and the Americas (-1.2%) fell, the latter affected by US tariffs.

Meanwhile, imports advanced 2.5% to €58.5 billion, driven by natural hydrocarbons (+14.5%), mechanical equipment (+3.8%), and refined petroleum (+3.2%), while purchases of agricultural products (-2.6%) and transport equipment (-2.7%) declined.

Regionally, imports expanded from Asia (+5.5%) and the Americas (+3.9%) but fell from Africa (-14.1%) and the Middle East (-0.1%).



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