Sugar, diamonds & oil field equipment are fastest-growing French exports to the U.S. while civilian aircraft engines lead American imports into France.

With a population of some 61 million, France exported US$37.1 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 9.8% from 2005 and up 31.5% in 4 years.

French imports from the U.S. rose 8.1% to $24.2 billion in 2006, up 27.4% since 2002.

In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade deficit with France was $12.9 billion in 2006, up 40.2% from 2002. The U.S. trade deficit with France increased 13.2% in 2006 – up from the 10.7% deficit increase in 2005 from the year earlier.

French Exports to U.S.

Of the $37.1 billion in American imports from France in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Medicinal, dental and pharmaceutical preparations …US$4.5 billion (12% of France to U.S. exports, down 0.3% from 2005)
2. Civilian aircraft (complete) … $3.7 billion (9.9%, up 95.3%)
3. Civilian aircraft engines … $3.0 billion (8%, up 9.2%)
4. Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $1.974 billion (5.3%, up 20.1%)
5. Other petroleum products … $1.967 billion (5.3%, up 54.3%)
6. Alcoholic beverages other than wine … $1.4 billion (3.7%, up 13.6%)
7. Wine & related products … $1.3 billion (3.6%, up 20.1%)
8. Cosmetics & toiletries… $1.2 billion (3.3%, up 3%)
9. Automotive parts & accessories … $1 billion (2.7%, down 12.5%)
10. Goods returned to U.S. then reimported … $965.8 million (2.6%, up 9.2%)

Fastest-Growing French Exports to U.S.

Below are American imports from France in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Cane & beet sugar … US$4.4 million (up 627% from 2005)
2. Diamonds … $32.9 million (up 131%)
3. Oil field platforms & equipment … $78.2 million (up 106%)
4. Civilian aircraft (complete) … $3.7 billion (up 95.3%)
5. Marine engines & parts … $32.5 million (up 32.5%)

French Imports from U.S.

Of the $24.2 billion in American exports to France in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Civilian aircraft engines … US$3.5 billion (14.4% of France from U.S. imports, down 0.8% from 2005)
2. Pharmaceutical preparations … $2.0 billion (8.4%, down 11.5%)
3. Civilian aircraft (complete) … $1.96 billion (8.1%, up 36.2%)
4. Civilian aircraft parts … $1.6 billion (6.5%, up 6.1%)
5. Medicinal equipment … $1 billion (4.2%, up 5.4%)
6. Industrial machines … $768.7 million (3.2%, up 11.1%)
7. Organic chemicals … $720.1 million (3%, up 22%)
8. Computer accessories … $706.1 million (2.9%, up 1.1%)
9. Measuring, testing control instruments … $703.8 million (2.9%, up 29.7%)
10. Minimum value shipments … $593.6 million (2.5%, up 8.7%)

Fastest-Growing French Imports from U.S.

Below are American exports to France in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Coal … US$12.9 million (up 854% from 2005)
2. Animal feeds … $13.1 million (up 276%)
3. Non-metallic minerals … $11.9 million (up 185.8%)
4. Dairy products & eggs … $1.4 million (up 107%)
5. Wine & related products … $19.6 million (up 100%)

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.