Container Shipping to France — Get Instant Quotes
Why Choose iContainers for Shipping to France?
- Le Havre & HAROPA momentum. HAROPA PORT (Le Havre + Rouen + Paris) closed 2024 with a record 3.1 million TEU, +19 % YoY—evidence that French gateways are regaining share on the North-European range. (container-mag.com)
- Instant, all-digital workflow. Get live FCL and LCL prices to every French seaport plus Canary-Islands feeders, book online, and track milestone-by-milestone from origin to POD.
- Paperwork, simplified. The platform auto-files the EU’s mandatory ICS2 Entry Summary Declaration and calculates France’s standard 20 % VAT upfront, so clearance never stalls. (taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu, avalara.com))
- Speed when it matters. Need just-in-time stock? Upgrade to air freight via Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS) for 3- to 5-day door-to-door delivery across the EU.
Our Container Shipping Services to France
Full Container Load (FCL)
Auto OEMs, wine exporters and chemical majors land sealed 20′, 40′ & 40′HC (plus reefers) at Le Havre (FRLEH), Marseille-Fos (FRMRS) or Dunkirk (FRDKK), then barge or rail direct to Paris, Lyon and the Benelux in ≤ 48 h.
Less-than-Container Load (LCL)
SMEs and Amazon.fr sellers cut freight bills by up to 50 % on loads < 15 m³ via weekly LCL consolidations devanned in bonded depots at Le Havre and Marseille.
Popular mode: FCL rules bulk wine & chemicals; LCL is booming for fashion and electronics D2C restocks.
Key ports / airports: Le Havre, Marseille-Fos, Dunkirk | urgent air via CDG & LYS.
Typical cargo: Vehicles, machinery, electronics, pharmaceuticals—France’s top import groups. (pangea-network.com)
Transit-time snapshots:
- Shanghai → Le Havre: ≈ 38 days port-to-port.
- New York → Le Havre: ≈ 11–12 days on North-Atlantic rotations.
Country tip: File ICS2 data 24 h pre-loading and pre-book trucking slots at Le Havre to dodge gate queues during strikes.
Alternative option: Air freight trims door-to-door to 3–5 days for high-value fashion capsules and AOG spares.
Container shipping rates to France
How much does it cost to ship a container to France?
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Container to France?
- East Asia → North-France: 37–40 days
- U.S. East Coast → North-France: 11–15 days
- Mediterranean feeders: 1–5 days among French, Spanish and Italian hubs
Air freight: 3–5 days door-to-door via CDG / LYS.
Popular Routes and Ports for Shipping to France
Asia–North Europe loops (AE6, MSC Griffin) call Le Havre weekly; Asia–Med services head into Marseille-Fos and Valencia before French trans-shipment. Inland barge corridors on the Seine move boxes to Gennevilliers and downstream Paris terminals within 24 h. (reuters.com)
Steps to Book Your Container Shipment with iContainers
- Quote — Enter origin, destination, and cargo specs for an instant rate.
- Docs — Upload commercial invoice, packing list & HS codes (ICS2 auto-filed). (taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu)
- Book & Pay — Confirm sailing and pay securely online.
- Track — Follow vessel, rail/barge legs and customs status in real time.
- Clear — Pay EU duty (0–5 %) + 20 % French VAT—DIY or via our broker. (avalara.com)
- Deliver — Arrange last-mile truck or rail to warehouse, FTZ or Amazon FR FBA.
What Can You Ship in a Container to France?
- Cars & parts
- Industrial machinery
- Electronics
- Pharmaceuticals
- Wine & spirits
- Fashion apparel
Restricted / Prohibited:
Counterfeit brands, dual-use goods without license, hazardous waste lacking Basel permits.
Main ports in France
FAQs About Shipping Containers to France
Most goods enter at 0–5 % customs duty plus 20 % VAT on the CIF value; our quote tool estimates both.
Yes—below 15 m³ you avoid paying for unused FCL space, usually saving 40–60 %.
Not mandatory, but strongly recommended—add door-to-door cover during checkout.
Reserve space 6–8 weeks ahead of November–December to avoid roll-overs and rate hikes.