Browse Data and Analysis

The French food processing sector encompasses approximately 15,500 companies ranging from small family-owned businesses to some of the world’s largest multinationals. Widely regarded for global leadership in innovative technology, quality and marketing, French food processing companies provide employment to more than 433,000 people, generating $53 billion in export sales.

Coffee production for marketing year (MY) 2022/23 (April to March) is forecast at 354,000 60-kg bags of Green Bean Equivalent (GBE) basis, an increase of 36 percent over the MY 2021/2022 estimate of 261,000 60-kg bags, due an increase in expected area harvested and improved pruning techniques.

On May 4, 2022, Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso appointed Mr. Bernardo Manzano as his 3rd Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).

In 2020, French food and agricultural imports from the United States reached $1.32 billion. While exporting to France is complicated, there are many opportunities for U.S. suppliers.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks have already led to the culling of 15 million poultry birds in France (approximately 5 percent of the total poultry flock). Dozens of new cases are being discovered every day. The new variant of the HPAI H5N1 virus appears to be highly transmissible and is spreading rapidly through reproductive flocks of broilers, ducks and egg laying hens.

Sugar production in marketing year MY 2022/23 is forecast to decrease to 530,000 MT, down five percent from the MY 2020/21 estimate, due to fertilizer and pesticide price increases during 2021, and despite a slight increase in planted area of 1,000 hectares.

The food processing industry is an important component of Ecuador’s manufacturing sector. In 2020, the sector contributed $6.5 billion to Ecuador’s gross domestic product and grossed $11 billion in net sales. Excellent sales prospects exist for U.S. food ingredient products to supply this industry.

The Government of Ecuador continues defining the yearly minimum price for local production of corn, rice, and wheat. The Minister of Agriculture supports the reduction of corn area and the shift to other crops that are mainly focused on the export market.

France has no commercial production or field trials of genetically engineered (GE) crops. The French livestock industry depends on imported GE products for feed, especially soybean, rapeseed, and corn.

Despite economic constraints and the continued COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. - Ecuador bilateral agricultural trade in 2021 rose to $3.8 billion. In addition, U.S. agricultural exports reached a record $587 million.

France as a member of the European Community has implemented EU regulations for the import of animal and plant products.

France, as a member of the European Union (EU), generally follows EU directives, regulations, and obligations. This report focuses on food laws in force in France that cover areas which are not EU harmonized.