February 27, 2023
AGI News
France is a significant player in world trade when it comes to the importing and exporting of goods. And this is no surprise, given France has the 2nd largest economy in the Eurozone. Only Germany has a larger economy, with San Marino having the smallest. Why not read on to find out all about the top 10 French exports!
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Before we get into the specifics, it’s important to set the scene and look at French exports as a whole. When compared with 2021, French exports in 2022 grew by 18.5%. This was up on the previous annual growth of 17.1% too, with French exports showing clear signs of recovery following the covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore Santander has reported the French export market continues to recover well following a downturn during the height of the pandemic. This is good news for French exports, as well as worldwide importers too.
French Trade: How big is the French export market?
According to data from French Customs and World’s Top Exports, French exports totaled US$665.4 billion in 2025. This reflects a steady growth of roughly 3% over the previous year, supported by a “biotech boom” and a record year for luxury exports.
Exports to Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain, and the United States accounted for the biggest values, totaling approximately 46.3% of all French exports.
Germany remains the top destination for French goods, while the U.S. remains the most vital market for high-value aerospace and luxury products.
The top 10: What are France’s biggest exports?
The following are the top 10 French exports during 2025. The top 10 accounts for approximately 61.2% of the total US$ value for all exports from France.
- Machinery, including Computers – US$76.2 billion (11.5% of total exports)
- Aircraft & Spacecraft – US$65.8 billion (9.9% of total exports)
- Vehicles – US$58.5 billion (8.8% of total exports)
- Electrical Machinery – US$51.9 billion (7.8% of total exports)
- Pharmaceuticals – US$42.6 billion (6.4% of total exports)
- Perfumes & Cosmetics – US$29.3 billion (4.4% of total exports)
- Plastics – US$25.3 billion (3.8% of total exports)
- Beverages, Spirits & Vinegar – US$21.9 billion (3.3% of total exports)
- Optical, Technical & Medical Apparatus – US$19.3 billion (2.9% of total exports)
- Iron & Steel – US$15.9 billion (2.4% of total exports)
Source: Douane.gouv.fr, The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
French food in trade
French cuisine is world-renowned, so it’s no surprise over US$53 billion worth of food was exported in 2021. Interestingly, the majority of the export value is driven by cereals. This includes wheat, corn and barley. After cereals, the next largest food export is dairy, eggs, and honey, with cheese heavily influencing the performance of this food category.
How can AGI help with French Exports?
The importing and exporting of goods to and from France can be a complicated process, and that’s where we come in! Here at AGI, we specialise in the safe transport of cargo to and from France, and all across the world, providing you with professional road freight, sea freight, and air freight solutions. To find out more about our logistics services, and how we can help your business, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you. And for all of the latest AGI news, don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook!