France exports: CH steel and metal products
France exports: CH steel and metal products stood at 3,908 EUR million in Aug 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the Trade balance and trade by product table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 2016 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Trade balance and trade by product table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports by product | |||||||||||
| CH - Steel and metal products | 3,908 | 3,960 | 3,755 | 3,707 | 3,679 | 3,849 | 3,761 | 3,672 | 3,585 | 3,646 | |
| CI - Computer, electronic and optical products | 3,651 | 3,455 | 3,474 | 3,372 | 3,442 | 3,241 | 3,151 | 3,099 | 3,374 | 2,906 |
Understanding france exports: CH steel and metal products
Outbound commercial dispatches of raw iron, processed structural steel, non-ferrous metal blocks, and fabricated metal structures leaving domestic metallurgical plants are aggregated in this trade series. The metric captures foundational material inputs supplied to international construction, infrastructure, and heavy machinery sectors, omitting raw metallic ores extracted from domestic mines prior to smelting. Transactions reflect declared customs values on a free-on-board basis, excluding internal transfers between affiliated industrial plants operating within national borders.
Assessing metal export performance requires monitoring global commodity market quotations and energy cost pressures that heavily influence smelting profit margins worldwide. Monthly figures are prone to large, infrequent swings caused by the fulfillment of major infrastructure supply contracts or temporary blast furnace maintenance cycles. Analysts should evaluate year-over-year comparisons alongside monthly rates of change to smooth out lumpiness caused by bulk cargo vessel scheduling.
What types of goods are captured under steel and metal product exports? The category encompasses primary pig iron, rolled steel sheets, structural metal profiles, tubes, pipes, and fabricated non-ferrous metal articles.
Why do monthly export figures for metals often appear erratic? Large industrial shipments are concentrated in bulk carrier loads, causing delivery schedules to create artificial volatility in single-month totals.
How do these figures relate to raw mineral mining statistics? Smelted and refined metal products are tracked here, whereas unrefined metallic ores and earth minerals are reported under separate mining categories.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of goods are captured under steel and metal product exports?
- The category encompasses primary pig iron, rolled steel sheets, structural metal profiles, tubes, pipes, and fabricated non-ferrous metal articles.
- Why do monthly export figures for metals often appear erratic?
- Large industrial shipments are concentrated in bulk carrier loads, causing delivery schedules to create artificial volatility in single-month totals.
- How do these figures relate to raw mineral mining statistics?
- Smelted and refined metal products are tracked here, whereas unrefined metallic ores and earth minerals are reported under separate mining categories.