Forex

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - French provisional, seasonally-adjusted trade figures for January showed a deficit of 3.391 bln eur compared with a deficit of 3.954 bln in December, revised from from the originally reported figure of 4.279 bln eur.

Exports in January totalled 36.594 bln eur compared with 34.950 bln in the previous month, revised from 33.126 bln.

Imports were 39.985 bln eur compared with 38.544 bln in December, revised from 37.405 bln.

For 2007, the French trade deficit was revised upwards to 39.560 bln eur from the previously estimated figure of 39.171 bln. The figure for 2006 was 28.427 bln eur.

Airbus aircraft exports totalled 23 in January, valued at 1.177 bln eur, versus 27 in December for 1.395 bln eur.

France's trade balance with the other members of the EU was a negative 1.262 bln eur in January, down from a negative 1.626 bln in December, while trade with Germany showed a deficit of 1.434 bln eur compared with a negative 1.745 bln in the previous month.

The trade balance with the rest of the euro zone shrank to a deficit of 1.952 bln eur compared with a 2.300 bln deficit in December.

Trade with Japan in January was minus 352 bln eur against a deficit of 416 mln in December.