The Six Busiest Cargo Ports in France

France's ports are vital to its economy and serve as major gateways for trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Located primarily along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, these ports play a significant role in global shipping.

Below are the largest and most important ports in France:

1. HAROPA - Port of Le Havre (FRLEH)

The Port of Le Havre is France's largest container port and serves as a key logistics hub, connecting France with international markets. Together with the ports of Rouen and Paris, it forms the HAROPA Port. Rouen is the largest grain export port in Europe, with strong trade links to African and Middle Eastern countries.

• Location: Situated in northern France, along the Seine River, the port is approximately 200 km (124 miles) from Paris and has access to the English Channel.
• Annual Container Throughput: 2.6 million TEU in 2023 (Upply)
• Annual Cargo Volume: 85.1 million tonnes in 2022 (Container News)
• Key Commodities: Crude oil, refined petroleum, chemicals, automotive products, machinery.

2. Port of Marseille-Fos (FRMRS)

Marseille-Fos is a major hub for oil and chemical products with a strategic Mediterranean location.

• Location: Located in the southern part of France, the port lies near the city of Marseille on the Mediterranean Sea, serving as a gateway to Southern Europe and North Africa.
• Annual Container Throughput: 1.3 million TEU in 2023 (Upply)
• Annual Cargo Volume: 79 million tonnes in 2023 (Marseille Fos Port)
• Key Commodities: Crude oil, chemicals, agricultural products, vehicles.

3. Port of Dunkirk (FRIRK)

Dunkirk is one of France’s leading ports for bulk cargo, especially energy products like coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

• Location: Located in northern France, near the Belgian border, Dunkirk faces the North Sea and serves as an important industrial port for the region.
• Annual Container Throughput: 667,051 TEU in 2023 (Upply)
• Annual Cargo Volume: 49 million tonnes in 2022 (Rail Freight)
• Key Commodities: Coal, iron ore, fresh produce, grain.

4. Port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire (FRNTE)

This port is crucial for energy imports and supports France’s aerospace and shipbuilding industries.

• Location: Located on the Loire River estuary in western France, Nantes-Saint-Nazaire is approximately 50 km (31 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean, serving the cities of Nantes and Saint-Nazaire.
• Annual Container Throughput: 135,600 TEU in 2022 (Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port)
• Annual Cargo Volume: 29.7 million tonnes in 2022, of which 9.9 million tonnes were liquified natural gas (Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port)
• Key Commodities: Petroleum products, natural gas, chemical products, agricultural goods.

5. Port of Bordeaux (FRBOD)

Bordeaux is famous for exporting wine and agricultural products while also playing a key role in importing raw materials for industrial use.

• Location: Situated in southwestern France, the port is located on the Garonne River, approximately 100 km (62 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean.
• Annual Cargo Volume: Approximately 8.5 million tonnes, about half of which is hydrocarbon products (Bordeaux Port)
• Key Commodities: Wine, cereals, chemicals, steel products.

6. Port of Calais (FRCQF)

Calais is one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe and also plays a significant role in freight transport, especially for trade with the UK.

• Location: Situated in northern France, directly across the English Channel from Dover, Calais is strategically positioned for cross-channel ferry services.
• Annual Container Throughput: Primarily focuses on RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) traffic.
• Annual Cargo Volume: Nearly 38 million tonnes in 2022 (Customs Support)
• Key Commodities: Vehicles, seafood