According to the statistics released by the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, in the first four months of this year France's basic steel product and ferroalloy exports amounted to a value of €3.2 billion, decreasing by 10 percent year on year.
France's steel product and ferroalloy export value has been on a downtrend on year-on-year basis since August last year, however, the decrease rate contracted in the January-April period compared to the first quarter of the year. Steel and ferroalloys ranked eighth in the first four months this year among the most exported products of the country, while the aerospace industry was the sector with the highest export value in the January-April period with €145 billion. Meanwhile, the country's motor vehicle exports amounted to €7.6 billion in the first four months, decreasing by 12.4 percent year on year.
During the period in question, France exported €735 million of steel pipes and tubes - up 3.4 percent, €169 million of cold rolled steel strip - up 2.9 percent, €116 million of cold rolled steel bars - down 18.5 percent, €132 million of cold drawn wire - down 6.9 percent, €181 million of metal structures and parts - down 18.8 percent, all compared to January-April 2012.
Meanwhile, in the January-April period of this year France's basic steel product and ferroalloy imports totaled €3 billion, down 9.7 percent year on year.
During the given period, France imported €550 million of steel pipes and tubes - down 7.5 percent, €200 million of cold rolled steel strip - down 2.9 percent, €137 million of cold rolled steel bars - down 18.5 percent, €134 million of cold drawn wire - down 13.4 percent, and €417 million of metal structures and parts - down 10.8 percent, all compared to the same period of the previous year.