FX.co ★ France Trade Gap Narrows More Than Expected

France’s trade deficit narrowed to €6.1 billion in August 2026, down from a revised €6.6 billion in July and below market expectations of a €6.5 billion shortfall.

Exports declined by 0.8% month-on-month to €54.2 billion. The decrease was driven mainly by lower shipments of transport equipment (-5.7%), agricultural, forestry and fishing products (-5.4%), and other industrial products (-0.4%). These declines were partly offset by stronger exports of refined petroleum products (+10.5%) and mechanical, electrical, electronic and computer equipment (+2.6%).

By destination, exports fell to Asia (-8.4%), the Middle East (-43.2%), and Africa (-6.3%), but increased to the EU (+0.9%) and the Americas (+9.5%).

Imports dropped 1.5% to €60.3 billion, mainly due to reduced purchases of transport equipment (-3.9%), refined petroleum products and coke (-3.4%), and agricultural, forestry and fishing products (-1.8%).

By origin, imports declined from the EU (-1.2%), Asia (-0.5%), and the Middle East (-39.6%), while rising from Africa (+6.5%) and the Americas (+1.3%).