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Nicknamed “The Hexagon” (l’Hexagone en français) because of the country’s roughly six-sided shape, France is strategically located on the European continent. It borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy to the east, Andorra to the South and Spain to the west. England is almost due north across the English Channel from France.

France exported US$668.3 billion worth of products around the world in 2025. That dollar amount results from a 16.6% upturn from $573.3 billion five years earlier in 2021.

Year over year, the overall value of goods exported from France grew by 6.6% compared to $626.9 billion for 2024.

The 5 biggest importers of products exported by France are Germany, Italy, United States of America, Spain and Belgium. Collectively, that quintet of major international customers paid for approached half (44.6%) of France’s total export sales in 2025.

Applying a continental lens, nearly two-thirds (65.8%) of France’s exports by value was delivered to fellow European countries while 17.5% was sold to importers in Asia. France shipped another 9.3% worth of goods to buyers in North America.

Smaller percentages went to customers in Africa (4.8%), Latin America (1.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.9%) led by Australia.

Note that 54.2% of France’s exports sold in 2025 were bought by countries that are fellow members of the European Union. That percentage lags the 54.5% for 2025.

Over four-fifths (82.6%) of French exports in 2025 was delivered to the above 25 trade partners.

The greatest increases in importing France’s shipments belong to United Arab Emirates (up 58.5% from 2024), Switzerland (up 18.4%), Morocco (up 11.4%), Poland (up 10.7%), then the United Kingdom (up 9.9%).

Posting double-digit percentage declines were customers located in Ireland (down -11.2% from 2024) and India (down -10.9%).

France recorded an overall -US$108.4 billion trade deficit in 2025, diminishing by -4.8% from -$113.9 billion in red ink one year earlier in 2024.

As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.

It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, a given export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.

France incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.

Among France’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, French deficits with Italy (up 139.7%), United States of America (up 64.7%) and Vietnam (up 29%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate France’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for France to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.

Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.

In 2025, France incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.

Among France’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, French surpluses with Jordan (up 375%), Qatar (up 236.2%) and Switzerland (up 130.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate France’s competitive advantages with the above countries but also represent key opportunities for France to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.

See also France’s Top 10 Major Export Companies, France’s Top 10 Imports and France’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on March 9, 2026

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 9, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 9, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 9, 2026

Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on March 9, 2026

Wikopedia, List of Companies of France. Accessed on March 9, 2026