Team France Export publishes today its « Barometer TFE » based on 7,400 interviews conducted between October 1, 2020 (launch of the Export Recovery Plan within the framework of France Relance) and April 30, 2021, by « International » TFE advisors in all regions.

This document, which is the result of listening to the field, specifically reflects the declared level of the export activity of companies (export sales) compared to the pre-Covid crisis. This analysis is broken down by major sectors of activity.

A high rate of maintenance in export and positive evolution of activity over the first four months of 2021. The main finding of this new edition is that companies declare an average of 86% over the last seven months, the continuation of their export activities against 65% in June 2020 (gain of 21 points). This rate is 91% for SMEs.

In April 2021, 65% of these companies are now reporting the same or increased sales (compared to 54% over the last six months, which means +11 points). This underlines a positive evolution of the activity and that companies have good visibility on markets and opportunities.

A right on-time recovery plan to trigger SME’s exportations

The deployment of the €247 million export component of the stimulus plan through a regional scale from October 2020 onwards has encouraged exporting SMEs and SMBs to continue prospecting internationally, despite the health context.

o 3,613 companies have benefited from export recovery vouchers for a total of €6,250,000 in aid. These vouchers help with 50% of the costs of participating in a trade show or purchasing a service.

o 400 V.I.E. relaunch vouchers have been granted. 5,000 subsidies to SMEs and ETIs for the hiring of a young VIE (Volunteer program abroad) which means 15 to 20% of the cost.

o 3,300 companies registered on the e-showcases of the French offer in three sectors of excellence launched last February: wines and spirits, cosmetics and beauty and food products to put them in e-business relations with hundreds of foreign buyers and distribution networks.