French provisional, seasonally-adjusted trade figures for February showed a deficit of 2.015 bln eur compared with a deficit of 2.414 bln in January, revised from a deficit of 2.367 bln eur reported originally.
Analysts had predicted a 2.7 bln eur shortfall. Exports in Feb totalled 31.674 bln eur compared with 31.735 bln the month before, revised from 31.765 bln.
Imports were 33.589 bln eur compared with 34.149 bln in Jan, revised from 34.132 bln reported originally. The trade balance for the year to date showed a deficit of 5.935 bln eur compared with minus 3.499 bln over the same period last year.
Food products showed a February surplus of 639 mln eur against a 619 mln surplus in January.
The Energy balance in the month gave a deficit of 4.025 bln eur compared with a deficit of 4.224 bln a month ago, while the industrial balance showed a deficit of 46 mln eur, down from a 237 mln deficit last time.
Airbus aircraft exports totalled 22 in February valued at 1.35 bln eur versus 15 in January for 1.018 bln.
France's trade balance with the other members of the EU was a negative 954 mln eur in Feb, up from a negative 843 mln in Jan, while 1.204 bln the month before.
The trade balance with the rest of the euro zone was a surplus of 318 mln eur compared with a 23 mln eur surplus in Jan.
Trade with Japan in was minus 375 mln eur against a deficit of 248 mln, while the US gave a surplus 429 mln eur versus plus 31 mln.