France imports: CH steel and metal products
France imports: CH steel and metal products stood at 4,529 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports by product | |||||||||||
| CH - Steel and metal products | 4,529 | 4,723 | 4,487 | 4,473 | 4,474 | 4,395 | 4,408 | 4,469 | 4,497 | 4,474 | |
| CI - Computer, electronic and optical products | 5,597 | 5,552 | 5,607 | 5,092 | 5,134 | 4,849 | 4,811 | 4,572 | 4,730 | 4,562 |
Understanding france imports: CH steel and metal products
Inbound commercial deliveries of raw pig iron, primary steel shapes, structural metal elements, and fabricated metal products arriving across borders form this trade variable. The calculation aggregates the customs value of ferrous and non-ferrous metal commodities, excluding metal ores extracted from mines and finished transport vehicles. This series isolates the metallurgical manufacturing and basic metal supply chain from downstream engineering and machinery sectors.
Interpreting these monthly figures requires monitoring global raw material pricing dynamics, structural capacity changes in international metal production, and domestic construction activity cycles. Early monthly estimates frequently experience revisions as detailed weight and valuation verifications are completed by customs agencies. Analysts should examine seasonally adjusted series to filter out scheduled industrial holiday shutdowns, and avoid comparing nominal metal import values directly with physical tonnage measures during periods of extreme metal price inflation.
Frequently asked questions
- Are metal ores included in steel and metal product imports?
- Unprocessed metal ores are excluded, with the series focusing on refined metals, structural shapes, and fabricated metal goods.
- How do steel price fluctuations affect these monthly import figures?
- Rapid price shifts can distort nominal import values, making it essential to evaluate physical tonnage metrics alongside financial data.
- Why are early estimates for metal product imports subject to revision?
- Detailed verification of shipment weights and transaction valuations by customs authorities often leads to subsequent data adjustments.