FR Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
French UN/LOCODE entries use the country prefix FR followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, FRLEH identifies Le Havre and FRMRS identifies Marseille.
Seaports in France: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
France has 261 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting major Atlantic, Channel, Mediterranean and inland European supply chains.
Explore France port codes, principal gateways, regional cargo clusters and indicative shipping lanes for 2026 planning.
France Seaport Overview
France combines major deep-sea container gateways with energy, dry bulk, ro-ro, passenger and inland-waterway facilities. The figures below distinguish Ecer Freight indexed coverage from selected national and port-authority operating statistics.
261
France ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
~320
Million tonnes of maritime freight, 2025; YoY subject to final national reconciliation
MOT 2025 maritime statistics
~7.0
Million TEU handled by leading French container gateways, 2025; broadly stable YoY
Port authority releases · 2025
~1,000
Commercial port and maritime facility berths, latest available official inventory; annual change varies by scope
MOT port inventory · 2025
How many seaports does France have?
France has 261 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its November 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage count, not a national legal census of every maritime facility.
What is France’s busiest container gateway?
Le Havre, UN/LOCODE FRLEH, is generally France’s leading container gateway, while Marseille-Fos, including FRFOS and FRMRS records, is a major Mediterranean cargo complex.
Which regions handle most French maritime freight?
The principal cargo regions are the Channel and Seine corridor around Le Havre and Rouen, the Mediterranean corridor around Fos Sur Mer and Marseille, and the Atlantic cluster around Nantes, Montoir and Bordeaux.
Top Ports in France by Cargo Activity
The table presents a practical gateway ranking based primarily on reported container activity and strategic cargo relevance. Throughput values are rounded indicative 2025 figures; final rankings can vary by whether port complexes or individual terminals are counted.
Selected French gateways · 2025 indicative container throughput
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ~75 | Le Havre | FRLEH | 3.20 | +5.0% | Channel / Seine |
| ~115 | Fos Sur Mer | FRFOS | 1.45 | +4.0% | Mediterranean |
| ~145 | Marseille | FRMRS | 1.05 | +3.0% | Mediterranean |
| ~190 | Dunkerque | FRDUN | 0.75 | +6.0% | North Sea / Channel |
| ~235 | Nantes | FRNTS | 0.35 | +2.0% | Atlantic |
| ~260 | Bassens | FRBAS | 0.25 | −1.0% | Gironde / Atlantic |
| — | Rouen | FRROU | — | — | Seine corridor |
| — | Montoir | FRMON | — | — | Loire estuary |
French Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Channel and Seine Corridor
This corridor links northern France with the United Kingdom, Northern Europe and inland distribution centres through the Seine network.
Channel and Seine ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Havre | FRLEH | Le Havre | Containers, ro-ro, energy and project cargo |
| Dunkerque | FRDUN | Dunkerque Ouest | Containers, steel, dry bulk and ro-ro |
| Rouen | FRROU | Rouen | Grain, agribulk, breakbulk and river-sea cargo |
| Dieppe | FRDIE | Dieppe / Normandy | Ro-ro, ferry, aggregates and general cargo |
| Dunkirk | FRIRK | Dunkirk | Bulk, industrial cargo and short-sea shipping |
Mediterranean Gateway
Mediterranean ports serve Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and global deep-sea services, with strong energy and industrial cargo flows.
Mediterranean ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fos Sur Mer | FRFOS | Fos Sur Mer | Containers, energy, liquid bulk and industrial cargo |
| Marseille | FRMRS | Marseille | Containers, ro-ro, passengers and general cargo |
| Toulon | FRTLN | Toulon | Ro-ro, ferry, cruise and naval activity |
| Nice | FRNIC | Nice | Passenger, cruise and regional supply traffic |
| La Nouvelle | FRLNO | La Nouvelle | Bulk, agribulk, energy and general cargo |
Atlantic and Loire-Gironde Cluster
Atlantic gateways support container shipping, liquid and dry bulk, agricultural exports, energy and regional industrial supply chains.
Atlantic ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nantes | FRNTS | Nantes | General cargo, containers and regional distribution |
| Montoir | FRMON | Pays De La Loire | Energy, containers, dry bulk and project cargo |
| Montoir-de-bretagne | FRMTX | Montoir-de-bretagne | Energy, bulk and industrial cargo |
| Bassens | FRBAS | Bassens | Containers, agribulk, forest products and breakbulk |
| Bordeaux | FRBOR | Bordeaux | General cargo, liquid bulk and regional trade |
| Brest | FRBES | Brest | Agri-food, energy, repair and general cargo |
Inland and Multimodal Distribution
Inland locations in the Ecer Freight index represent logistics and multimodal nodes connected to coastal gateways by rail, road, river and barge services.
Selected inland and multimodal nodes
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | FRPRS | Paris | Inland container distribution and barge logistics |
| Lyon | FRLIO | Lyon | Inland logistics and multimodal distribution |
| Strasbourg | FRSTR | Strasbourg | Rhine-linked containers, bulk and industrial cargo |
| Metz | FRMET | Metz | Inland waterway, rail and industrial logistics |
| Lille | FRLIL | Lille | Intermodal distribution and regional manufacturing |
France Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A port code may identify a city, port complex, inland node or specific operating location. Similar names can therefore appear under different codes, and terminal instructions should be checked against the booking and carrier documentation.
How to Verify a France Port Code
Check the location against the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference and compare it with the Ecer Freight port code directory before preparing shipping documents.
Shipping from France: Main Trade Lanes
France’s trade lanes connect Atlantic and Mediterranean gateways with Asia, North America, North Africa, the Middle East and Northern Europe. Transit times are indicative and depend on sailing schedules, transshipment and inland delivery.
France to East Asia
Container services from Le Havre and Mediterranean gateways connect French exporters and importers with major Asian markets.
France to North America
Atlantic services support cargo between France, the United States, Canada and Caribbean-connected distribution networks.
France to Mediterranean and North Africa
Short-sea and regional services from Marseille-Fos support regular trade with North Africa, Southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
France to Northern Europe
Channel and North Sea services link French cargo with Benelux, Germany, Scandinavia and the wider European short-sea market.
France Port Data Methodology and Sources
Ecer Freight separates first-party indexed coverage from official port throughput and national maritime statistics. Figures can use different scopes, including port complexes, terminals, maritime freight or containerised cargo.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — 261 France ports and terminals indexed in the November 2026 database snapshot.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE country and location-code reference for France port identifiers.
- French Ministry for Ecological Transition — national maritime transport, port and freight statistics where published.
- HAROPA PORT — operating information and activity reporting for Le Havre, Rouen and Paris-connected facilities.
- Marseille Fos Port — port-complex activity information and cargo statistics for Mediterranean operations.
France Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does France have?
France has 261 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the November 2026 snapshot. The figure represents the Ecer Freight database scope and is not a universal legal count of every maritime facility.
What is the largest or busiest port in France?
Le Havre, coded FRLEH, is generally the leading French container gateway. Marseille-Fos, represented in the database by FRFOS and FRMRS records, is a major multipurpose Mediterranean port complex.
What does the FR prefix mean in a France port code?
FR is the ISO country prefix used in France UN/LOCODE entries. It is followed by three characters identifying the relevant city, port, terminal area or logistics location.
Which French port regions are most important for freight?
The main freight clusters are the Channel and Seine corridor, the Mediterranean gateway around Fos Sur Mer and Marseille, and the Atlantic cluster around Nantes, Montoir, Bassens and Bordeaux.
How current is the France port information?
The indexed-port snapshot is dated November 2026. Throughput references use the most recent complete statistical year, 2025, where available; operational schedules and port calls remain subject to confirmation.
Can Ecer Freight quote FCL shipping from France?
FCL rates for France-origin and France-destination shipments can be requested through the FCL sea freight quote page. The final offer depends on cargo details, routing, equipment, schedule and local charges.
Can smaller France locations be used for LCL shipping?
Smaller coastal and inland locations may connect to consolidation networks through a major gateway. LCL routing, cut-off time and final delivery should be confirmed against the cargo origin and destination.
Editorial note: France port codes and indexed coverage are maintained from the Ecer Freight database, while throughput and maritime indicators are cross-checked against official ministry, port-authority and international location-code sources. The page is reviewed quarterly, with annual statistics updated when the relevant complete-year releases become available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in France: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact