PARIS, May 7 (Reuters) - French energy imports rose in March while Airbus exports fell, pushing the trade deficit to 4.884 billion euros compared with 4.124 billion the previous month, the customs office said on Thursday.
The finance ministry said the data confirmed France's trade balance was stabilising.
"The major industrial components have stabilised, with the notable exception of the aeronautical industry," the ministry said in a note on the data.
Energy imports accounted for a large part of the deficit. They rose to 3.616 billion euros in March from 3.467 billion in February, while energy exports in the same period dropped to 593 million euros from 649 billion. On the exports side, the finance ministry said aeronautical and aerospace exports had dropped markedly, with Airbus sales falling to 19 in March from 24 in February while other components had stabilised. Auto exports were showing signs of a rebound, the ministry said.
On the imports side, manufactured goods declined moderately, but there was a strong rise in car imports. Aeronautical imports fell, however, following large purchases of Boeing planes in the previous month.
"The overall imports figure rose slightly, because of a slight increase in purchases of natural hydrocarbons and agricultural products," the ministry said. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Chris Pizzey)