France is ranked third in industrial activity in the European economy immediately behind Germany and the United Kingdom. This represents 15% of European industrial production. Eight active sectors dominate the economy:

The Automobile Industry :
The world production of French builders has reached a new record in 2003 with nearly 5,75 millions of vehicles.
French builders have realized 10% of the world total sales.

Material Processing :
Michelin is the world leader in tire production. Saint-Gobain holds the same position in the production of glass and is the second largest exporter. France and Great Britain occupy the second place in Europe in the plastics industry.

Construction and Public Works :
In 2003, estate building sector has reached a turnover of 124 billions Euros, and it should increase in 2004 due to new housing to be built. Sales of new houses have in fact increased by 20,9% in 2003 . This sector employs 294 000 companies and 1 .4 millions people.

Telecommunications Industry :
Today, France is catching up with 3.4 millions broad band Internet connections and is 3rd on the European broad band market. French individual owners of mobile telephones amounts to 42 millions, representing 69% of the French population. New information and communication technologies represents 11 % of the market share of the French industry.

Aerospace Industry:
The European Group EADS (European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Company) is the result of the merging of the French Matra Aerospatiale, the German Daimler Chrysler Aerospace and the spanish CASA, and has now reached the third Group on the world.
EADS and Ariane (world leader in space transport) are all increasingly recognized on the world stage.

Agro Business :
With a 131,2 billion Euros turnover in 2001, this sector is the leading French industry. This sector represents 21.9% of the whole turnover of the French Industry.
The 4 250 businesses in the sector employ 418 000 people (third French employer). France is number one in Europe with 21.1% of the European total, ahead of Germany.

The Chemical Industry :
This sector employs 236 300 people with a turnover of 84,5 billion Euros. In 2002 the French chemical industry was classified as the first exporter (excluding food product and energy).
France is also the second world producer in Europe and the third world exporter of chemical and pharmaceutical products.

Luxury Goods and Fashion :
This sector generates a turnover of nearly 39 billion Euros. With the world leader, l’Oréal, and many other well known companies in the field, France is the first world exporter of perfumes and cosmectics with 35% of the market share.

The industrial structure is characterised by the predominance of SMIs (enterprises of 20 to 499 employees). Indeed, they constitute 96.1% of manufacturing, employ 53.1% of the workforce, and produce 41.4% of turnover.