Over twelve months, however, France’s cumulative deficit continued to improve, standing at 82.1 billion euros.
France’s trade deficit widened slightly to 6.7 billion euros in August, due to a greater drop in exports than imports, according to a press release from French customs on Tuesday. Over one month, exports fell by 300 million euros, more than imports which fell by 100 million euros, according to a press release from French customs published Tuesday, explaining the slight widening of the trade deficit. The trade deficit for July was revised upwards to 6.5 billion euros, after having initially been recorded at 5.9 billion euros, customs also indicated.
Over twelve months, however, France’s cumulative deficit continued to contract in August, falling to 82.1 billion euros compared to 82.6 billion in July. It widened in August despite a reduced energy bill: French energy imports continued to decrease in value, thanks in particular to a drop in prices and a decline in imported volumes, as well as a slight increase in exported volumes. .
Also readFrench trade deficit falls to 5.9 billion euros in July
Excluding the energy sector, the trade deficit is deteriorating
Excluding energy, however, the trade balance deteriorated by 600 million euros due to an increase in the bill for manufactured products. France also saw the number of its exporters decline in the second quarter compared to a year earlier, to 125,300 exporters. “residents”that is to say excluding foreign companies not registered in France, a drop of 4,700 compared to the second quarter of 2023, customs announced.
By including operators “non-residents”the number of exporters of goods from France increased by 3,200 units compared to the same period a year earlier, to 149,600, mainly thanks to companies registered in China. The current account deficit reached 600 million euros in August, after balancing in July, according to data from the Bank of France.
