Industry Demand

摘要

After remaining stagnant since the global financial crisis in 2008, the French economy saw some reprieve in2016 as construction activity expanded and new car registrations increased. This has created an optimisticoutlook for the French economy. In 2017, AME forecasts French real GDP will expand 1.4% as low interestrates support growth in construction starts, car sales and consumer durable sales. The strength of the economywill, however, depend on the impact of French presidential elections as well as the UK’s exit from the EuropeanUnion. French refined zinc demand is expected to remain flat in 2017 at 223kt. Finished lead demand will grow1.3% to 79.5kt. As the eleventh-largest car manufacturer in the world, France is expected to account for 1.6% ofglobal apparent finished zinc demand and less than 1% of lead demand in 2017.