According to the statistics released by the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, in the first quarter of this year France's basic steel product and ferroalloy exports amounted to a value of €2.4 billion, decreasing by 11.8 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, with a growing decrease rate. Steel and ferroalloys ranked eighth in the first three 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-March period with €12.4 billion. Meanwhile, the country's motor vehicle exports amounted to €5.5 billion in the first quarter, decreasing by 16.8 percent year on year.
During the period in question, France exported €528 million of steel pipes and tubes - remaining unchanged, €123 million of cold rolled steel strip - also remaining stable, €99 million of cold drawn wire - down 8.3 percent, €86 million of cold rolled steel bars - down 20.2 percent, €128.5 million of metal structures and parts - down 21.7 percent, all compared to the first quarter of 2012.
Meanwhile, in January-March period of this year France's basic steel product and ferroalloy imports totaled €2.26 billion, down 11 percent year on year.
During the given period, France imported €412 million of steel pipes and tubes - down 10.5 percent, €150.5 million of cold rolled steel strip - down four percent, €100 million of cold rolled steel bars - down 23.4 percent, €93 million of cold drawn wire - down 16 percent, and €301.5 million of metal structures and parts - down 13.2 percent, all compared to the same period of the previous year.
