In 2024, the turnover of the French aeronautical sector reached 77.7 billion euros (+10%): it thus exceeded the level reached in 2019 of 74.3 billion euros. A record amount which is explained by the increase in cadences in the civilian (74% of turnover) and the military (26%). And which was intended for 82% for export, or 51.2 billion euros. An economic performance to be nuanced by inflation, of 18% in the past five years: it masks industrial catch -up which has not yet been carried out.
If the volume of orders is similar to the years 2013-2014, at 74.8 billion euros (+5%, despite the decline of 33% orders from the Ministry of the Armed Forces), the workforce of the aeronautical sector are up, with a total of 222,000 employees, against 210,000 in 2023. No less than 25,000 recruitments are planned in 2025. These figures have not yet found its sector Productivity before-crisis, in particular due to the high renewal of the teams. Which will still require several years of catching up.
A new showdown in perspective
In the midst of a redecolling the aeronautical sector is faced with an unexpected gust, that of the increase in customs duties launched by the new American administration, established for the time being at 10%. “”Today there is a transatlantic ecosystem that these customs duties come to damage“Said Guillaume Faury, recalling that the sector had hitherto benefited from an international agreement, dating from 1979, ensuring the exemption from customs duties to civil aviation. And the manager ensures that the American aeronautical industry is shooting in the foot: she exported for an amount of $ 120 billion in 2023 and imported for $ 20 billion.
For having already been at the heart of a confrontation between the European Union and the United States until the early 2020s, the boss of Gifas and Airbus did not hesitate to evoke the possibility of reprisals. “”If the United States decides to increase the level of prices on imported goods, this will necessarily have consequencespredicted Guillaume Faury. Answers will be inspired by those set up five years ago.Understand: reciprocal customs duties, in other words applied to Boeing planes imported to Europe, but not to aeronautical parts so as not to penalize European actors. Five years ago, litigation at the World Trade Organization (WTO) gave rise to a targeted increase in customs duties on both sides of the Atlantic, followed by a suspension of this commercial conflict. But such an showdown would be “loser“Had hammered the president of Gifas, even if the American actors have more to lose there.
SMEs very exposed to customs duties
While the big principals – like Airbus and Safran – have said in recent weeks that they have been implementing measures to reduce the impact of these customs duties, some small businesses could be very exposed. “”The impact of such a trade war could be calamitous for the most fragile actors who, I remind you, barely come out of the COVID crisis and must invest in order to risesaid Didier Kayat, president of the geads (aeronautical, defense and space equipment manufacturers) and CEO of Daher. The real risk is that everyone stins these price increases. Even 10% increase, it can be lethal for many small businesses.Customs duties that promise to dispense logistics circuits and generate delays in devices of devices, or not, for airlines.
Not enough, however, encourage the aeronautical sector to review its industrial footprint. first of all because the impact of customs duties only concerns actors who import into the United States. “”However, we are very largely based in Europerecalled Guillaume Faury. On the other hand, we would be affected in the event of reciprocal customs duties, which is why this will not be part of the recommendations that we could give to the European authorities.But also because the modification of the industrial footprint requires heavy investments. “”To invest, you need visibilitycontinued the manager. And the environment in which we are at the moment is so unstable that it is very difficult to make industrial investment decisions.»
Too heavy European regulations
The managers of the sector did not miss the opportunity to make their wrath again to know a regulatory and fiscal environment which they deem unfavorable. Of the “ballsWhich could harm the competitiveness of the sector in the face of foreign competition. “”The first point of weaknesses which constitutes a competitive disadvantage is the level of taxes, charges and taxes to which we are subject, compared to other countries of Europe or outside Europeinsisted Guillaume Faury, as he had already done at the start of the year. We are at a point where investments may no longer in France.In these times of generalized austerity, the manager pleads for the maintenance of the research tax credit (CIR) but is alarmed by the temptation to puncture the sector which remains the French export champion. Good news despite everything: after the alert issued by the sector, the budget of the Civil Aeronautical Research Council (Corac) will remain in Flots, with 285 million euros per year until 2027.
Beyond France, it is on a European scale that actions should also be carried out, according to the president of GIFA, echoing the alarm cry the day before by the bosses of Stellantis and Renault. “”We must also simplify the European regulatory maquis to move forward, we are in an industry where it takes speedasserted Guillaume Faury. However, the surreation slows us down enormously. I am very concerned.In the crosshairs: the European CSRD directive, which aims to collect information in terms of sustainability of large companies, as well as taxonomy, classifying companies according to whether their activities are considered sustainable or not. “”We are today faced with a quantity of regulations such as European industry advances much more slowly than the othershammered Guillaume Faury. It is necessary to put simplicity, efficiency.While Comac awakens and Boeing gets up, the French aeronautical sector wishes to keep its dynamism.
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