PARIS (AFP) -- The France had a trade deficit of 2.367 billion euros (2.822 billion dollars) in January, a slight narrowing compared with the figure for December mainly because of higher industrial exports, data from the French customs service showed.

The trade deficit in December had been 2.594 billion euros, revised data corrected for seasonal variations showed Friday.

French customs also revised their figure for the French trade deficit for the whole of 2005, putting it at 22.770 billion euros instead of a previously estimated 26.459 billion euros.

In January, exports were 31.765 billion euros while imports totalled 34.132 billion euros.

Industrial exports "continue at a high pace since October 2005", customs said, notably because of the exports of the aeronautical sector.

In January, a weather satellite was sold to an international organisation for 163 million euros and another worth 79 million euros to Saudi Arabia.

European aircraft maker Airbus, which is headquartered in the French city of Toulouse, delivered 15 plans in January for 1.018 billion euros.