PARIS, Feb 6: France’s trade deficit widened by 38 per cent last year to a record 55.7 billion euros (71 billion dollars), customs authorities reported on Friday, blaming higher energy costs and an overall economic downturn.

Exports rose to 409 billion euros from 401 billion in 2007 while the value of imports increased to 465 billion from 442 billion euros.

The shortfall in December shrank to 2.45 billion euros from 6.0 billion in November, which analysts attributed to weaker oil prices at the end of the year along with declining domestic demand.

The finance ministry said 80 per cent of the 2008 deficit could be attributed to higher energy bills. But it said the recent decline in crude prices should “considerably lighten” the energy burden in 2009. The trade balance likewise suffered from crumbling worldwide demand, a trend that hurt French auto sales abroad.—AFP