The National Federation of Ports and Docks CGT (FNPD-CGT) has been holding a series of work stoppages across major ports in France since the beginning of 2025. Dockworkers staged several 4-hour work stoppages throughout the month of January, however, the biggest disruption occurred during a 48-hour strike on January 30-31, when operational disruptions were confirmed at major ports such as in Dunkirk and Marseille.
So far, the labour union insists that the French government has failed to address their concerns over a change in dockworker pensions and extended the strikes until the end of February. A series of 4-hour walkouts as well as three full-day strike have been called until the end of the month, with the first 24-hour strike taking place on February 21. The next 48-hour strike is expected to take place on February 26 and 27.
If no agreement is reached, the union is reportedly planning to discuss the possibility of further strike actions in March during the week of February 24. If the strikes are extended into March, cargo delays and container backlogs are likely to worsen at several major French ports in the coming weeks, which could cause operational disruptions for companies with business ties in France as well as knock-on effects at other regional ports as carriers may try to get around work stoppages by re-directing cargo to other nearby ports.
Intermittent strike actions cause operational disruptions at several French ports
Some transport companies that pay their drivers by the hour have already seen an increase in operational costs as longer waiting and loading times at ports drove up salary costs. More broadly, TLF Overseas, a French organization that represents air and sea freight forwarding companies as well as registered customs representatives, estimates that the sector has already seen a turnover loss of 21% in January, driven in part by the intermittent strike actions at many ports throughout the month. The organization has also warned that the sector could face a turnover loss of 25% in February if strikes continue unabated. In early February, TLF Overseas estimated that each day of total blockage results in a loss of €40 million ($41.82 million) for the French economy. Some industry representatives have also warned that, in the long term, shippers could choose to divert shipments away from French ports to other regional hubs such as Antwerp, Rotterdam or Barcelona. Vessel divisions could result in financial losses for French ports but could also cause congestion at nearby regional ports if divisions result in a notable increase in vessel and container numbers.
Everstream clients are receiving more detailed insights and recommendations about this risk.
Don’t miss key supply chain risk updates! Subscribe now to get supply chain news, weather updates, forecasts, and other insights.