While a 49.7 PMI suggests a slight contraction, beneath the surface, France's industrial engine is powering a remarkable transformation, from producing 450,000 tons of cement and €45.6 billion in machinery to generating €379.5 TWh of nuclear power and rolling out 458,000 electric vehicles.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, France's manufacturing output grew by 1.2% year-over-year, driven by machinery and equipment production reaching €45.6 billion.
- The French manufacturing PMI index stood at 49.7 in December 2023, indicating slight contraction amid supply chain pressures.
- In 2022, France produced 1.2 million tons of steel, accounting for 1.5% of EU total production with ArcelorMittal as key player.
- France's nuclear electricity generation reached 379.5 TWh in 2022, covering 69% of total electricity needs.
- Renewable energy capacity installed was 62 GW in 2023, with wind at 21 GW and solar at 17 GW.
- Total primary energy consumption was 1,559 TWh in 2022, down 4.5% from 2021.
- France produced 2.4 million passenger cars in 2023, down 10% from 2022.
- Renault Group sold 2.2 million vehicles globally in 2023, 25% electric.
- Electric vehicle registrations: 458,000 units in 2023, 16% market share.
- Air France-KLM fleet: 565 aircraft in 2023, operating 1,700 daily flights.
- Airbus delivered 66 A320 family aircraft from Toulouse in 2023.
- Safran aircraft engine production: 1,500 LEAP engines in 2023.
- Chemical industry turnover reached €100 billion in 2023, 10% of manufacturing.
- Sanofi pharmaceutical sales: €43.1 billion globally in 2023, 40% from France R&D.
- Arkema specialty chemicals revenue: €11.6 billion in 2023.
French manufacturing grows modestly, led by machinery and food processing, while some sectors contract.
Aerospace Industry
- Air France-KLM fleet: 565 aircraft in 2023, operating 1,700 daily flights.
- Airbus delivered 66 A320 family aircraft from Toulouse in 2023.
- Safran aircraft engine production: 1,500 LEAP engines in 2023.
- Thales revenue from aerospace: €7.8 billion in 2023.
- Dassault Aviation delivered 68 Rafale jets in 2023.
- Ariane 6 first launch success planned, with 72-ton LEO capacity.
- Space sector turnover: €11 billion in 2022, 50,000 jobs.
- Helicopter production by Airbus: 300 units from Marignane in 2023.
- Satellite manufacturing: 15 units by Thales Alenia Space in 2023.
- Defense exports: €11 billion in 2023, Rafale to India and UAE.
- Drone production growth: 20% YoY, market €1 billion.
- Aviation R&D: €5 billion invested in 2023 by major firms.
- Business jet deliveries by Dassault Falcon: 25 units in 2023.
- Onboard avionics market: €3.2 billion revenue for Thales.
- MBDA missile production: 1,200 units yearly from French sites.
- Navantia frigate construction for French Navy: 2 units launched.
- Sustainable aviation fuel usage: 0.3% of jet fuel in 2023.
- A380 production ended, 251 units built by Airbus France.
- Radar systems by Thales: 50 Ground Master delivered globally.
- Eurofighter contributions from France via MBDA: missiles.
Aerospace Industry Interpretation
From its colossal Air France fleet piercing the daily clouds to the stealthy Rafales guarding the nation's sovereignty, France’s aerospace and defense sector is an economic engine so powerful it could probably fly on its own pride, fueled by everything from satellites and missiles to a hopeful dash of sustainable fuel.
Automotive Industry
- France produced 2.4 million passenger cars in 2023, down 10% from 2022.
- Renault Group sold 2.2 million vehicles globally in 2023, 25% electric.
- Electric vehicle registrations: 458,000 units in 2023, 16% market share.
- Automotive industry turnover: €130 billion in 2022, employing 600,000.
- PSA (Stellantis) production: 1.1 million vehicles from French plants in 2023.
- Parts and components manufacturing: €55 billion exports in 2023.
- Average CO2 emissions per new car: 108 g/km in 2023.
- Truck production: 450,000 units in 2022 by Renault Trucks and Volvo.
- R&D spending in automotive: €7.5 billion in 2023.
- Battery production capacity: 100 GWh targeted by 2025, ACC for 40 GWh.
- Hybrid vehicles sales: 250,000 units in 2023.
- Automotive employment in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: 180,000 jobs.
- Export ratio: 85% of French car production exported in 2023.
- Two-wheelers production: 300,000 motorcycles in 2022.
- Autonomous vehicle testing: 2,500 km daily on public roads in 2023.
- Car scrappage scheme: 200,000 vehicles replaced with low-emission in 2023.
- Michelin tire production: 180 million units from French plants yearly.
- Valeo sales: €20.9 billion in 2023, focus on electrification.
- Plastic Omnium revenue: €10.1 billion, 60% from bumpers.
- Faurecia (Forvia) turnover: €29 billion in 2023.
- Bus production: 8,000 units in 2022 by Iveco and others.
- Diesel vehicle share: 28% of new registrations in 2023.
Automotive Industry Interpretation
Despite a 10% dip in overall car production, France’s automotive heart is still pumping out electric ambition, exporting its engineering prowess globally while steadily trading diesel growls for the quieter hum of a €130 billion industry in transition.
Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry
- Chemical industry turnover reached €100 billion in 2023, 10% of manufacturing.
- Sanofi pharmaceutical sales: €43.1 billion globally in 2023, 40% from France R&D.
- Arkema specialty chemicals revenue: €11.6 billion in 2023.
- Air Liquide industrial gases sales: €27.6 billion, 20% from France.
- Plastic production: 6.5 million tons in 2022 by French firms.
- Fertilizer output: 2.8 million tons nitrogen-based in 2023.
- Cosmetics industry turnover: €12 billion in 2023, L'Oréal €42 billion global.
- Pharmaceutical production value: €55 billion in 2022.
- R&D in chemicals: €4.5 billion spent in 2023.
- Paints and coatings market: €3.8 billion turnover.
- Bio-based chemicals production growing 15% YoY to €2 billion.
- Vaccine production by Sanofi Pasteur: 100 million doses yearly.
- Fine chemicals exports: €25 billion in 2023.
- Solvay France soda ash production: 1 million tons.
- Perfume and fragrance industry: €8 billion, 90% exports.
- Generic drugs market share: 65% of French prescriptions in 2023.
- Carbon capture projects: 5 industrial sites capturing 1 Mt CO2/year.
- Adhesive production: 800,000 tons in 2022.
- Biopharma R&D centers: 250 in France, €10 billion investment.
- Detergents and soaps turnover: €6.5 billion.
- Green chemistry innovations: 30% of new products sustainable by 2023.
Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry Interpretation
The French chemical sector, with its bedrock of traditional giants and agile, innovative startups, is not just mixing compounds but carefully formulating a future where economic might, strategic healthcare, and sustainable ambition are precisely blended into a powerful €100 billion solution.
Energy Sector
- France's nuclear electricity generation reached 379.5 TWh in 2022, covering 69% of total electricity needs.
- Renewable energy capacity installed was 62 GW in 2023, with wind at 21 GW and solar at 17 GW.
- Total primary energy consumption was 1,559 TWh in 2022, down 4.5% from 2021.
- Hydroelectric production hit 62 TWh in 2022, 11% of electricity mix.
- Offshore wind projects: 6 GW capacity awarded, first farm Saint-Nazaire 480 MW operational by 2026.
- Natural gas imports accounted for 99% of supply, 420 TWh in 2022 from Norway and US.
- Energy efficiency: final energy consumption per GDP unit fell 1.8% in 2022.
- Solar PV capacity grew 3 GW in 2023, total exceeding 17 GW.
- Biomass energy production was 18 TWh in 2022, mainly from wood.
- Electricity transmission losses were 2.5% of gross production in 2022.
- France has 56 operable nuclear reactors with total capacity 61 GW in 2023.
- CO2 emissions from energy sector: 300 Mt in 2022, down 7% YoY.
- Onshore wind capacity: 18 GW, producing 47 TWh in 2022.
- LPG consumption in industry was 12 Mt in 2022.
- Smart grid investments: €2.5 billion by RTE in 2023-2027 plan.
- Geothermal energy production: 20 TWh thermal equivalent in 2022.
- Hydrogen production target: 6.5 Mt by 2030, with €9 billion investment.
- District heating networks supplied 5% of heating needs, 120 TWh in 2022.
- Energy storage capacity: 1.5 GW batteries installed by end 2023.
- Coal consumption dropped to 0.8 Mt in 2022, minimal role.
- Electricity exports net: 22 TWh in 2022 to Europe.
- Energy prices: wholesale electricity averaged €250/MWh in 2022.
- Nuclear load factor: 72% in 2022 due to maintenance.
- Renewables share in electricity: 28% in 2023.
- Oil refining capacity: 62 Mt/year across 5 refineries in 2023.
Energy Sector Interpretation
France's energy landscape is a masterclass in atomic dominance, with nuclear power steadfastly supplying nearly 70% of its electricity, while renewables like wind and solar are sprouting ambitiously yet still play a supporting role to the established nuclear fleet.
Manufacturing Sector
- In 2023, France's manufacturing output grew by 1.2% year-over-year, driven by machinery and equipment production reaching €45.6 billion.
- The French manufacturing PMI index stood at 49.7 in December 2023, indicating slight contraction amid supply chain pressures.
- In 2022, France produced 1.2 million tons of steel, accounting for 1.5% of EU total production with ArcelorMittal as key player.
- Mechanical engineering subsector employed 285,000 workers in 2021, generating €68 billion in turnover.
- France's food processing industry output reached €170 billion in 2022, representing 16% of total manufacturing value added.
- Electrical equipment manufacturing saw a 3.4% growth in 2023, with exports valued at €22.5 billion.
- In 2021, the metalworking sector had 45,000 enterprises, contributing €95 billion to GDP.
- France's manufacturing energy consumption was 320 TWh in 2022, 28% from electricity.
- Textile and apparel manufacturing turnover fell to €12.3 billion in 2022 due to import competition.
- Precision instruments production grew 4.1% in 2023, reaching €15.8 billion in sales.
- Furniture manufacturing sector employed 120,000 people in 2021, with €18 billion turnover.
- France's paper and cardboard production was 9.2 million tons in 2022.
- Rubber and plastics manufacturing output value hit €42 billion in 2023.
- Shipbuilding industry delivered 15 vessels totaling 250,000 GT in 2022.
- Glass and ceramics sector turnover reached €14.5 billion in 2021.
- France manufactured 450,000 tons of cement in key plants like Lafarge in 2023.
- Printing and publishing industry revenue declined to €10.2 billion in 2022.
- Leather goods production, led by luxury brands, generated €5.6 billion in 2023.
- Jewelry and watchmaking sector employed 20,000 artisans, turnover €7.8 billion in 2022.
- Toy manufacturing output was €1.2 billion in 2021, with 80% exports.
- Medical device manufacturing turnover reached €28 billion in 2023.
- Optics industry produced 1.5 million units of lenses in 2022.
- France's bicycle manufacturing hit 2.8 million units in 2023.
- Wood processing sector turnover was €25 billion in 2022.
- Non-metallic minerals production grew 2.5% to €30 billion in 2023.
- Basic metals manufacturing employed 150,000 workers in 2021.
- Fabricated metal products subsector value added €55 billion in 2022.
- Manufacturing R&D expenditure was €18 billion in 2023, 2.8% of turnover.
- Digital transformation in manufacturing: 45% of firms adopted Industry 4.0 by 2023.
- Manufacturing trade balance surplus was €15 billion in 2022.
Manufacturing Sector Interpretation
France's manufacturing sector is a tale of two realities: its stomach is full from a €170 billion food industry and its heart beats with precision instruments, yet its pulse, measured by a PMI just below 50, shows it's anxiously pacing in €1,200 Louboutins as it grapples with energy costs, import competition, and the immense task of a digital overhaul.
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