Exports to Italy rose to $**.** million, accounting for **.** per cent of total shipments during January-March ****, up from $**.** million and a *.** per cent share a year earlier. Germany&#**;s imports from France, however, fell to $**.** million from $**.** million in the corresponding period of ****, reducing its share from **.** per cent to **.** per cent, according to sourcing intelligence tool TexPro.
Tunisia and Spain also strengthened their positions among France&#**;s leading export destinations. Exports to Tunisia climbed to $**.** million, representing *.** per cent of total exports, while shipments to Spain increased to $**.** million, taking a *.** per cent share. Belgium ranked fifth with imports worth $*.** million.
The first-quarter figures point to a broader diversification of France&#**;s export markets rather than continued reliance on Germany. While Germany remains a key industrial partner, weaker manufacturing activity there, may have softened demand for industrial textiles used in sectors such as automotive, machinery and construction.
While France&#**;s industrial textile imports also expanded, rising *.* per cent year on year to $***.** million in the first quarter. Germany remained the largest supplier with shipments worth $**.** million, narrowly ahead of Italy at $**.** million. Belgium retained third place with $**.** million, while imports from China grew to $**.** million, increasing its market share from *.** per cent to *.** per cent. The UK completed the top five suppliers with exports valued at $**.** million, as per TexPro.
