French trade deficit narrows in June

France's trade deficit narrowed in June to 5.6 billion euros from a revised 6.4 billion in May as energy imports dipped and the country sold more Airbus planes, seasonally adjusted customs office data showed on Friday. A Reuters poll of nine economists had forecast the deficit would narrow on average to a gap of 6.5 billion euros.
The June figure marked a respite in a trend that has seen France's trade deficit steadily widen in recent years, hitting a record 7.17 billion euros in April, as the cost of buying energy abroad has risen while French exports have lost market share. The May deficit was originally given as another record of 7.42 billion euros before being revised on Friday. French imports fell in June by 825 million euros to 40.2 billion euros, as less transport industry equipment was imported and energy imports decreased due to lower volumes and cheaper crude. Exports were relatively flat at 34.6 billion euros.