France's aerospace industry grew strongly in the first half of this year, with sales up by 8.9% to Fr72.5 billion ($12 billion), and orders by 16.8%. Jean-Paul Béchat, president of French industry body GifaS, says that much of the growth came from the equipment industry, which accounts for 25% of total sales, and which he says has made a "major contribution" to the 16% overall increase in exports during the period, against a 2.7% decrease in domestic business.
Source: Flight International