In 2020, French imports reached 569.2 billion dollars, up 1.8 percent from 2016, but down by minus 10.8 percent from 2019. The euro has appreciated by 3.1 percent against the US dollar since 2016, according to the average exchange rate for 2020, and has increased by 2 percent from 2019 to 2020. When converted from the stronger euro, France's imports paid in weaker US dollars become relatively less expensive.
Imports from France account for 3 percent of total global imports, which were predicted to be 19.085 trillion dollars a year in 2020 as calculated on February 14, 2021.
From a continental perspective, France's total imports by value in 2020 accounted for nearly two-thirds which is 63.1 percent of the country's total imports.
22.6 percent of France's import purchases came from Asian partners, while 7.3 percent came from North America.
Africa got 3.8 percent, Latin America got 1.2 percent, excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean with 1.2 percent, and Oceania with 0.2 percent, led by Australia and New Zealand, received smaller percentages.
With a population of 65 million people, France's total imports of 569.2 billion dollars in 2020 equates to nearly 8,800 dollars in annual product demand for each individual in the European Union country.
France Top Imports
The following product groupings account for the majority of France's import purchases in 2020.
The percentage share of each product category in terms of total imports into France is also given.
71.3 billion dollars in machinery, including computers, accounts for 12.5 percent of total imports
65.4 billion dollars in vehicles accounts for 11.5 percent
53.6 billion dollars in electrical machinery and equipment accounts for 9.4 percent
Mineral fuels, which include oil, are worth 39.6 billion dollars accounting for 7 percent
28.7 billion dollars in pharmaceuticals account for 5 percent
22.2 billion dollars in plastics and plastic goods account for 3.9 percent
20.1 billion dollars in optical, technical, and medical equipment accounts for 3.5 percent
14.6 billion dollars in organic chemicals account for 2.6 percent
13 billion dollars for aircraft and spaceships account for 2.3 percent
11.1 billion dollars on clothing and accessories not knit or crocheted accounts for 1.9 percent
The top ten imports accounted for roughly three-fifths of the total value of France's goods purchases from foreign nations which is 59.7 percent.
Only one of the top product categories saw a decrease in value, namely French pharmaceutical imports, which increased by 14.5 percent year over year.
Mineral fuels, such as oil went down by minus 40 percent, airplanes and spacecraft also went down by minus 37.1 percent, and machinery, such as computers, were the most rapidly falling category was down by minus 14.7 percent.
France Top Exports
In 2020, France, formerly the French Republic, transported 476.1 billion dollars worth of goods around the world.
The value of the dollar metric has dropped by 14.2 percent from 2019 to 2020, compared to a minus 2.9 percent drop since 2016.
The euro has appreciated by 3.1 percent against the US dollar since 2016, according to the average exchange rate for 2020, and has increased by 2 percent from 2019 to 2020.
In 2021, France's exports paid for in lower US dollars will be relatively more expensive for overseas customers due to the stronger European Union currency.
In 2022, the most valuable exports from France will be pharmaceutical mixtures, airplanes including spaceships and turbojets, cars, automotive parts or accessories, and wine.
In total, those significant exports will account for 21.9 percent of France's total export revenues.
The commodities themselves indicate a rather diverse variety of exported goods.
France is the world's greatest exporter of wine and is among the top nations for aviation parts, and is a major rival for pharmaceutical supplies.
According to the most recent data available, importers in Germany account for 14.5 percent of the global total, the United States for 7.8 percent, Italy for 7.7 percent, Spain for 7.4 percent, Belgium with 7.4 percent, the United Kingdom for 6.5 percent, China with 4.2 percent, the Netherlands with 3.8 percent, Switzerland with 3.4 percent, Poland with 2.2 percent, Singapore with 1.7 percent, and Turkey purchased 68.2 percent of products exported from France.
From a continental standpoint, 65.9 percent of France's exports were delivered to other European countries, while 16.8 percent were sold to Asian buyers.
Another 9.2 percent of France's exports went to North America.
Africa got 5.3 percent, Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean got 1.5 percent, and Oceania headed by Australia received smaller percentages of 1.1 percent.
With a population of 65 million people, France's total exports of 476.1 billion dollars in 2020 equate to nearly 7,300 dollars for each inhabitant of the European Union member country.
In terms of monetary value, the following export product groups accounted for the majority of French global shipments in 2021.
The percentage share of each export category in terms of total exports from France is also indicated.
54.5 billion dollars in machinery, including computers with 11.5 percent of total exports
44.3 billion dollars in vehicles accounts for 9.3 percent
38.8 billion dollars in electrical machinery and equipment accounts for 8.1 percent
37.9 billion dollars in pharmaceuticals account for 8 percent
29.2 billion dollars for aircraft and spacecraft accounts for 6.1 percent
19.3 billion dollars in plastics and plastic goods account for 4.1 percent
Cosmetics and perfumes:17.9 billion dollars accounts for 3.8 percent
17.5 billion dollars in beverages, spirits, and vinegar stands at 3.7 percent
16.1 billion dollars in optical, technical, and medical equipment at 3.4 percent
12.8 billion in other chemical goods account for 2.7 percent
The top ten export categories in France accounted for 60.6 percent of the total value of the country's global shipments.
Pharmaceuticals were the only major sector to see an increase in export sales from 2019 to 2021 up to 6.7 percent.
With a minus, 45.3 percent dip, aircraft, and spacecraft were the greatest decliner among France's top 10 export categories.
France's Top Trading Partners
France is strategically placed on the European continent and is known as The Hexagon or l'Hexagone in French due to its nearly six-sided form.
It is bordered on the east by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, on the south by Andorra, and on the west by Spain.
Across the English Channel from France, England is practically due north.
In 2020, France sent 476.1 billion dollars worth of goods around the world.
The value of the dollar metric has dropped by 14.2 percent from 2019 to 2020, compared to a minus 2.9 percent drop since 2016.
The total monetary amount is around 2.9 percent of total world exports, which were projected at 19.285 trillion dollars a year ago in 2020 calculated as of February 14, 2021.
According to a continental perspective, 64.3 percent of France's exports were delivered to other European countries, while 17.4 percent were sold to Asian buyers.
Another ten percent of France's exports went to North America and Africa (5.2 percent ).
Latin America, excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean got 1.9 percent, and Oceania, led by Australia, received a smaller percentage of 1 percent.
Here is a list of 15 of France's most important trading partners, the countries that imported the most French cargo in terms of dollar value in 2020.
The percentage of total French exports for each importing country is also indicated.
69.1 billion dollars in Germany which account for 14.5 percent of total French exports
37 billion dollars in the United States accounting for 7.8 percent
Italy's budget is 36.8 billion standing at 7.7 percent
Spain is worth 35.2 billion dollars which accounts for 7.4 percent
Belgium is 35.2 billion accounting for 7.4 percent
The United Kingdom with 30.9 billion pound sterling accounts for 6.5 percent
20.1 billion dollars in China accounts for 4.2 percent
18.2 billion dollars in the Netherlands accounts for 3.8 percent
16.4 billion dollars in Switzerland accounts for 3.4 percent
10.6 billion dollars for Poland accounts for 2.2 percent
Singapore with 8 billion dollars accounts for 1.7 percent
7.2 billion from Turkey accounts for 1.5 percent
6.4 billion dollars in Japan accounts for 1.4 percent
5.93 billion dollars in Hong Kong accounts for 1.2 percent
5.88 billion dollars for Russia accounts for 1.2 percent
Approaching three-quarters or 72 percent of French exports in 2020 were delivered to the above 15 trade partners.
The sole increase from 2019 to 2020 belongs to Turkey with an 8.6 percent increase.
Japan was down by minus 25.5 percent, the United States came down by minus 21.4 percent, and the United Kingdom went down by minus 21.4 percent where the top three year-over-year decliners were down by minus 18 percent.