As global trade patterns shift under the weight of new U.S. tariffs and ongoing geopolitical tensions, the commercial relationship between France and Australia continues to develop, with promising opportunities for growth in several key sectors.
"We're seeing tremendous potential in strengthening bilateral trade between our countries," said Jerome Monteiro, President of the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI) in Western Australia, who recently hosted the French Secretary of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships, Mr. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, during his first official visit to Perth on April 11, 2025, accompanied by French Ambassador to Australia, Mr. Pierre-Andre Imbert.
The high-profile gathering, organised by FACCI at GHD's Perth office, brought together a panel of French companies operating in Western Australia. During the event, Secretary Mohamed-Soilihi praised the assembled companies for "honouring France and its excellence" while "helping to shape the future with strong values coming from France" across various sectors of the Western Australian economy.
Beyond the Numbers
Trade figures reveal a growing economic relationship between the two nations. In 2023, France exported goods worth approximately $4.89 billion to Australia, while Australia exported goods valued at about $1.65 billion to France. Though the trade balance favours France, both sides have seen consistent annual growth exceeding 4.4% over five years.
The composition of this trade highlights how well the two economies complement each other. France's primary exports to Australia include packaged medicaments ($457 million), wine ($309 million), and perfumes ($244 million), reflecting the country's strengths in pharmaceuticals, premium agricultural products, and luxury goods. Meanwhile, Australia sends coal briquettes ($713 million), rapeseed ($494 million), and radioactive chemicals ($87 million) to France, showcasing its resource-based export profile.
Service trade adds another significant dimension to the relationship, with France exporting services worth $1.13 billion to Australia in 2020, while Australia's service exports to France reached $513 million, predominantly in travel services.
This partnership works largely because of the countries' different economic structures. France ranks higher on the Economic Complexity Index compared to Australia, indicating a more diversified French economy with broader manufacturing capabilities. This creates natural opportunities where France provides manufactured goods while Australia supplies the resources needed to produce them.
A Diverse French Presence Across Australian Industries
The French corporate footprint in Australia spans an impressive range of sectors, from energy to luxury retail. In the energy landscape, TotalEnergies participates in Australia's LNG projects, while Neoen and EDF Renewables are helping to reshape the country's approach to sustainable power generation. This influence extends to energy infrastructure, where Technip Energies contributes engineering expertise for complex LNG developments, particularly along Australia's resource-rich western coastline.
The built environment throughout Australia bears the mark of French technical know-how. VINCI Construction works on significant infrastructure projects, while Legrand's electrical systems can be found in buildings across the country. When Australians commute, they often rely on transportation solutions from Alstom, whose railway technologies serve major urban centres, or Transdev, which operates public transport networks in several Australian cities.
Behind the scenes, French technical expertise ensures quality and compliance across multiple industries. Bureau Veritas, for instance, provides the critical testing and certification services that allow Australian exports to meet international standards. In manufacturing and resource operations, Schneider Electric's automation and energy management technologies help Australian facilities operate efficiently, while Teréga Solutions offers specialised expertise in gas infrastructure.
Environmental challenges have created opportunities for French-Australian collaboration as well. Veolia applies its waste management and water treatment technologies to address sustainability needs for Australian communities and industries. In remote operations throughout the country, particularly in the resources sector, Sodexo's facilities management services keep essential services running smoothly.
The technological ties between the nations continue to deepen. Thales Group supports both defence and civil applications across Australia, while Dassault Systèmes' design software underpins innovation in industries ranging from aerospace to consumer goods. The financial infrastructure supporting bilateral trade includes services from BNP Paribas and Natixis, with AXA XL providing the specialised insurance solutions that make complex projects possible.
Even Australia's retail landscape reflects French influence, with luxury brands such as Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton maintaining a strong presence in major cities. The beverage sector has seen significant French investment, with Pernod Ricard holding interests in Australian wine production. Keeping goods moving between the countries, GEODIS provides the logistics expertise that navigates the complexities of intercontinental supply chains.
Western Australia: Where Resources Meet Technology
Western Australia has emerged as a particularly important region for French-Australian cooperation. The state's extraordinary resource wealth creates natural complementarity with French technological capabilities, resulting in partnerships that benefit both sides.
In the resources sector, Bureau Veritas helps ensure that Western Australia's mineral exports meet the exacting standards of international markets, while Sodexo provides the essential services that keep remote mining operations functioning. The state's industrial facilities increasingly rely on automation and energy management systems from Schneider Electric, which improve both productivity and sustainability.
As Western Australia develops its infrastructure to support growing exports, VINCI Construction contributes engineering capabilities that help connect resources to global markets. The financial underpinnings for these major projects often involve risk management solutions from AXA XL, which has developed expertise relevant to the state's unique operational challenges.
The energy transition represents a significant opportunity for expanded cooperation. French companies including TotalEnergies, EDF Renewables, Engie and Neoen recognise Western Australia's extraordinary renewable energy potential. Meanwhile, Technip Energies supports the state's established LNG industry, helping to maximise the value of Western Australia's substantial gas resources.
Looking to the future, the critical minerals sector holds particular promise. With Western Australia containing approximately 20% of the world's lithium reserves and substantial deposits of other battery materials, companies like Eramet are showing increased interest in the state's resources that are essential for the global energy transition.
Knowledge transfer flows in both directions through research collaboration between Western Australian and French universities in fields like mining engineering and critical mineral processing. These institutional partnerships create pathways for technical innovation that could yield significant long-term benefits for both countries.
Navigating Challenges, Building for the Future
The relationship has weathered challenges, including tensions following the 2021 AUKUS announcement that affected a submarine contract with Naval Group. Nevertheless, both nations continue to focus on the many areas where their interests align.
Recent U.S. tariffs have disrupted established trade patterns worldwide, potentially increasing the importance of diversified trading relationships. In this environment, the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays a crucial role by helping businesses understand the commercial and technical requirements of both markets.
As negotiations for an Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement progress, both countries anticipate benefits from improved market access and regulatory alignment. The recent high-level visit to Western Australia underscores recognition of the state's strategic importance to Franco-Australian relations.
The WA FACCI continues working to strengthen these connections by offering market guidance and networking opportunities that help companies navigate the complexities of international trade. Through these efforts, the Australia-France relationship demonstrates how complementary economies can build resilient partnerships—even as the global trade landscape undergoes significant transformation.
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