French output down, trade surplus up

PARIS, Jan 13 (AFP) – Industrial output in France declined 0.4 percent in November from the October figure but the country’s trade surplus expanded 52 percent to reach EUR 411 million (USD 524 million) in November from the previous month, official figures showed Tuesday.

The national statistics institute INSEE also reported that French consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in December from November and 2.2 percent from the same month in 2002.

INSEE said industrial production gained 1.1 percent from November 2002, adding that output in the manufacturing sector fell back 0.2 percent in November from October but rose 0.8 percent on the year.

The customs authority meanwhile reported that French exports came to EUR 26.32 billion in November, when imports were valued at 25.91 billion.

The trade surplus for the first 11 months of 2003 stood at EUR 2.957 billion according to seasonally adjusted figures.

Despite the increase in the surplus, customs authorities described a trend toward stronger exports as “fragile.”

But they said sales abroad from France’s automotive and aeronautics industries remained robust, in contrast to persistent stagnation in exports of intermediate goods and industrial equipment.

Auto industry sales in Iran and Turkey were described as dynamic and largely responsible for the good performance of the auto export sector overall.

The customs authority also pointed to solid sales of electrical and electronic goods in the United States and central and eastern Europe.

© AFP

                                Subject: France news