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French ports
Ports play an essential role in the world economy. More than 90% of international trade in goods is done by ship.
Key points of the sheet
- Ports make large-scale import-export easier. For example: containers, oil, ores, wood, cereals.
- France's major seaports are run directly by the State. They handle more than 80% of French maritime goods traffic.
- These major ports are the main entry and exit points for goods. They connect France to the major global logistics hubs and help French industry stay competitive.
- France has 66 commercial seaports, including 12 State ports. In metropolitan France there are 7 major ports: Dunkerque, Le Havre, Rouen, Nantes Saint-Nazaire, La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Marseille.
- There are also 4 major ports in the overseas territories: Guyane, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Port-Réunion.
- The port of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, near Canada, is a port of national interest and also a State port. It is much smaller than the others, but important because of its location.
- The map also shows decentralised commercial ports. For example: Calais, Brest or Ajaccio in Corsica.
- On the map, Mayotte (Longoni) is also shown as a major seaport. Saint-Pierre is shown there as a decentralised commercial port.
Words to know
- major seaports (grands ports maritimes)
- They are ports run directly by the State. They handle more than 80% of French maritime goods traffic.
- State ports (ports d’État)
- France has 12 State ports among its 66 commercial seaports.
- port of national interest (port d’intérêt national)
- It is the port of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, near Canada, important because of its location.
- containers (conteneurs)
- Millions of containers pass through each year thanks to the major seaports.
- liquid or solid bulk (vrac liquide ou solide)
- These are goods such as oil, ores, wood or cereals.
- global logistics hubs (hubs logistiques mondiaux)
- The major ports connect France to these hubs, in Europe, Asia and America.
Test yourself: 3 questions
What share of international trade in goods is done by ship?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle part du commerce international de marchandises se fait par bateau ?
More than 90% of international trade in goods is done by ship.
Who directly runs France's major seaports?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui gère directement les grands ports maritimes de France ?
France's major seaports are run directly by the State.
How many commercial seaports does France have?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien de ports de commerce maritime compte la France ?
France has 66 commercial seaports, including 12 State ports.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- Which big French city is on the Mediterranean Sea?
- Which city is a major seaport?
- Which French city is a seaport?
More in this topic (France in Europe and in the world)
- An air transport system at the heart of the global network
- A maritime power
- A military and diplomatic power
Source
Sheet “Les ports français” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.