According to figures by credit insurer Coface, in the year 2000 the countries of Africa acquired around 11 percent of their imports from France. By 2017, this figure had plummeted to just 5.5 percent.

In the meantime, Germany, Africa’s biggest European trading partner, and China, the world’s largest importer and exporter, have ousted France from its leading position. 18 percent of all imports to African countries now come from China, up from just 3 percent in 2001. France’s biggest African trading partners are Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, accounting for around 50 percent of its total trading volume to the Continent. More than 16 percent of French exports headed for Africa go to Morocco which, in turn, accounts for 22 percent of exports from Africa to France. Machines, electronic devices and pharmaceuticals are among the main products to be exported to Africa. As far as African imports to France are concerned, the list is topped by fuels, textiles and clothing as well as cars and car parts. The sharp increase in automotive imports can be explained by the presence of important manufacturers in Morocco and South Africa.