The National Federal of Ports and Docks (CGT) has called for a series of port strikes in France from May 21 through June 28 as part of ongoing protests to federal pension reforms that would change the early retirement age from 58 to 60 years. In addition, CGT members are using the opportunity to demand government investment in port infrastructure totaling €10 billion ($10.9 billion). The union initially called for four-hour strikes in November 2023, and subsequent waves of strike action took place in December 2023 and February 2024.
During this round of strikes, members are expected to again participate in four-hour shifts between 10:00 and 16:00 local time, although the expected rate of adherence has not been reported and may vary from port to port. The stoppages will take place on 19 working days throughout the May and June timeframe.
Following the launch of the strikes in May, the ports of Fos-sur-Mer and Le Havre reported delays, with vessels staying on average about two days at anchor now in Marseille before docking and unloading procedures. Logistics providers on the ground have reported that each strike action adds to the backlog and delays, and that cargo at times takes more than four days to be gated out of Le Havre. The Ports of Bordeaux and Rouen have also seen delay times spike in the aftermath of the strike launch.
Port strikes in France trigger shipping disruptions in key industries
The ports of Fos-sur-Mer and Le Havre, France’s largest ports in tonnage per year are critical for operational continuity in France’s oil and gas and chemicals sectors. The Port of Fos-sur-Mer houses industrial clusters of refined oil, iron and steel, and chemicals, and accounts for 60% of France’s total hydrocarbon traffic.
The Ports of Le Havre, Rouen, and Paris (referred to collectively as HAROPA PORT) are France’s leading container ports for external trade, having processed 2.5 million containers in 2023. HAROPA PORT also sits next to a platform designed for base and specialty chemicals including fertilizers, additives, and plastics, making it a leading port in France for energy procurement and crude oil and refined product shipments. In 2023, 15.4 million tonnes of crude oil, 17.3 million tonnes of refined products, and 3.3 million tonnes of chemicals were transported to and from the site. HAROPA PORT also serves as the French port with the most storage capacity for temperature-controlled perishable goods like pharmaceuticals, with over one million cubic meters in refrigerated warehousing space on site. More than two million tonnes of agro-industrial commodities including sugar, cocoa, and coffee pass through the ports each year as well, serving as France’s gateway for raw agricultural inputs needed for many consumer products.
The Port of Bordeaux has some of the highest cargo processing delay times since the most recent wave of port strikes began. While the port accounts for considerably less traffic than the Marseille and HAROPA ports, over half of its traffic comes from hydrocarbons. As such, ongoing delays may exacerbate the anticipated disruptions to petroleum and natural gas imports at the Port of Fos-sur-Mer. The strike adherence and impact varied across French ports during the February strikes. The Port of Le Havre halted ship loading and unloading operations entirely, while 70% of dockworkers at the Port of Rouen blocked access to two sites of the port’s left bank. Much of the disruptions resulting from this round of strike action will also depend on adherence level, but oil and gas, chemicals, and perishables industries are likely to be impacted to some extent by the planned work stoppages.
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