What Are the Major Industries in France?
Major industries in France include automobile manufacturing, aircraft production, chemicals, electronics, machinery manufacturing, metallurgy and tourism. Thirty-five of the global Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in France, including Total, AXA, BNP Pariba and retailer Carrefour. France is a key member of the European Union and is the Eurozone’s second-largest economy.
Tourism is arguably France’s most important industry. It is the most-visited country in the world, with approximately 80 million visitors per year, and it generates the third-largest income in the world from tourism. Paris is famous for its luxury goods, and the country has an extensive railway system connecting Paris to several other French cities, as well as to cities in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
France has 58 nuclear reactors in operation furnishing 75 percent of all electricity produced in the country, making energy an important industry. France’s flagship company in nuclear power is Areva, which is known for its research into improving safety and its commitment to delivering a new generation of reactors to the world market.
France’s leading exports are machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, and beverages. France is one of the top wine producers in the world. Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and the United States are France’s main trading partners.
