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PARIS (Thomson Financial) - French provisional, seasonally-adjusted trade figures for May showed a deficit of 4.738 billion euros compared with a deficit of 3.739 billion euros in April, revised from a deficit of 3.716 billion reported originally.
A consensus of economists predicted a deficit of 4.0 billion euros.
Exports in May totalled 34.719 billion euros compared with 35.313 billion the month before, revised from 34.966 billion. Imports were 39.457 billion euros compared with 39.052 billion in April, revised from 38.682 billion reported originally.
The trade balance for the year to date showed a deficit of 18.696 billion euros compared with minus 12.188 billion over the same period last year.
Food products showed a May surplus of 852 million euros against a 983 million surplus in April.
The Energy balance in the month gave a deficit of 4.366 billion euros compared with a deficit of 4.730 billion a month ago, while the industrial balance showed a deficit of 2.328 billion euros, down from a 1.560 billion deficit last time.
Airbus aircraft exports totalled 20 in May valued at 831 million euros versus 22 in April for 1.112 billion.
France's trade balance with the other members of the EU was a negative 2.496 billion euros in May, versus a negative 1.737 billion in April, while trade with Germany showed a deficit of 1.764 billion euros compared with a negative 1.763 billion the month before.
The trade balance with the rest of the euro zone was a deficit of 3.056 billion euros compared with a 2.581 billion deficit in April.
Trade with Japan in May was minus 337 million euros against a deficit of 304 million in April, while the United States gave a deficit of 232 million euros versus minus 143 million. tfn.paris@thomsonreuters.com gt/jag/gt/rfw COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
© 2008 AFX News
