Importing from France

France Import Guide | Trade Finance Global

Importing from France

In recent years, French exports to the EU, Asia and Africa have increased, while exports to the Middle East, the US, Switzerland, and Turkey have fallen. France is the world’s largest producer of agricultural products and services, the eight largest exporter in the world, and the seventh largest economy (in terms of GDP) in the world. The top annual French exports are: planes and helicopters ($50 billion), packaged medicines ($28 billion), cars ($22 billion) and vehicle parts ($16 billion).

France Country Profile

Official Name (Local Language) Republique Francaise
Capital Paris
Population 66,836,154
Currency Euro
GDP $2,488 billion
Languages French
Telephone Dial In 33

France Exports Profile

Exports ($m USD)

523,385

Number of Export Products

4,347

Number of Export Partners

230

Top 5 export partners

Country

Trade

% Partner Share

Germany

77,610

14.83%

Spain

40,191

7.68%

Italy

39,738

7.59%

United States

38,414

7.34%

Belgium

36,488

6.97%

Top 5 Export Products at HS 6 digit level

Export Product

Number

Aircraft nes of an unladen weight exceeding 15,

8.4%

Other medicaments of mixed or unmixed products,

4.7%

Petroleum oils, etc, (excl. crude); preparation

4.2%

Automobiles with diesel engine displacing more

3.0%

Parts of turbo-jets or turbo-propellers

2.4%

Chart Showing GDP Growth Compared to rest of world

GDP Composition for France

Agriculture

%

Product List

1.7%

Wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish

Industry

%

Industry List

19.4%

Machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism

Services

%

Service List

78.8%

Importing from France: What is trade finance?

Trade finance is a revolving facility in which lenders offer financing options – it enables businesses to purchase products and can help ease the pressure from working capital issues.

Generally, an export finance bank will fund up to 100% of the cost of the products, including charges (e.g. insurance costs).

Trade finance offers upsides over more traditional bank financing, for example bridging mortgages or loans. Trade finance provides quick funding without affecting existing bank relationships.

How does it work?

If you’re a business importing or exporting goods around the world, then a trade finance facility would assist your company through offering a letter of credit (LC) or some form of cash advance.

I’m looking to import from France, how can Trade Finance Global help, and how does it work?

If you’re looking to import inventory from other countries, you may require import finance, which is an agreement between yourself (the importer) and the foreign exporter. A non-bank lender will act as the intermediary, paying the foreign exporter on your behalf until you get the products and have then sold them to your buyer. Repaying the financier then occurs over an agreed period of time.

Information

Importing from France? Contact our local experts

France Economic Statistics

Government Website

https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/news

Sovereign Ratings

https://countryeconomy.com/ratings/france

Central Bank

Banque de France

Currency USD Exchange Rate

0.9214

Unemployment Rate

9.7%

Population below poverty line

14%

Inflation Rate

0.3%

Prime Lending Rate

0%

GDP

$2,488 billion

GDP Pro Capita (PPP)

$42,400

Currency Name

Euro

Currency Code

EUR

World Bank Classification

High Income

Competitive Industrial Performance

21/138

Corruption Perceptions Index

23/180

Ease of Doing Business

32/190

Enabling Trade Index

13/136

Currency in France

About the Author

Brian Canup is the Editorial & Research Assistant at Trade Finance Global (TFG).

Brian holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MA in International Political Economy from King’s College London.

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