According to the statistics released by the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, in 2012 France's basic steel product and ferroalloy exports amounted to a value of €10 billion, recording a decrease of 3.75 percent compared to the previous year. In 2011 France's basic steel product and ferroalloy exports value was up by 9.7 percent year on year.
France's steel product and ferroalloy export value has been on a downtrend with a growing decrease rate since August last year. In 2012, steel and ferroalloys ranked eighth among the most exported products of the country.
During the period in question, France exported €2.14 billion of steel pipes and tubes - down 12.1 percent, €480 million of cold rolled steel strip - down 10.1 percent, €371.5 million of cold rolled steel bars - down 9.6 percent, €392 million of cold drawn wire - down 0.9 percent, €674 million of metal structures and parts - down 7.85 percent, all compared to 2011.
Meanwhile, in the 2012 France's basic steel product and ferroalloy imports totaled €8.9 billion, down 14.5 percent year on year.
During the given period, France imported €1.7 billion of steel pipes and tubes - down 6.6 percent, €581 million of cold rolled steel strip - down 13.1 percent, €419 million of cold rolled steel bars - down 15.6 percent, €365 million of cold drawn wire - down 17.2 percent, and €1.37 billion of metal structures and parts - down 5.7 percent, all compared to 2011.
