France: Buying
In this page: Customs Procedures | Industrial and Manufacturing Profile | Identifying a Supplier | Controlling the Quality of the Products | Organizing Goods Transport To and From France
Customs Procedures
- Export Clearance
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The export procedure foresees, in principle, two stages:
First the exporter/declarant presents the goods, his export declaration and, when necessary, his export authorization or license at the customs office responsible for the place where he is established or where the goods are packed or loaded for export (Article 161 (5) CC). The export declaration must be submitted by electronic means, through the Export Control System (ECS).
Subsequently, the goods are presented at the customs office of exit which examines the goods presented based on the information received from the customs office of export and makes sure that they correspond to those declared and supervises their physical departure (Article 332 UCC IA).
In the case of goods exported by rail, post, air or sea, the customs office of exit may be the office competent for the place where the goods are taken over under a single transport contract for transport to a third country (e.g. port, airport, railway station). - Necessary Declaration
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The Customs declaration must contain the commercial invoice, which is a record or evidence of the transaction between the exporter and the importer. The commercial invoice contains the basic information on the transaction:
- code, number, name, quantity and price of the product;
- destination of the goods and the address of the person or place of reception;
- name and registration number of the transport company;
- place of warehousing.
- Restrictions
- It is only prohibited to export cultural artifacts, specimens of flora and fauna which are threatened with extinction and war material, arms, munitions and such.
- Export Taxes
- None
Industrial and Manufacturing Profile
In France, the sector of industry represents 17.1% of the GDP and 19.9% of total employment (World Bank). The pharmaceutical, aeronautical, and new information and communication technology (NICT) industries have an important place in the French industrial scene.
Sector-specific professional associations
161 professional associations listed for France.
Type of Manufacturers
- Original Equipment Manufacturers
- OEMs in France are generally manufacturers of spare parts for the automobile, aeronautical, IT and electronic industries. Among the French OEMs , there are large groups such as, for example, Valeo (automobile) or Atos (IT).
- Original Design Manufacturers
- A large number of subcontractors have had to adapt to the requirements of their industrial clients and take a bigger part in the industrial production process. They have gone from the simple task of making parts to that of helping with decision making or marketing. In France, it is often subcontractors of IT or electronic components who have become designer subcontractors.
- Subcontractors
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Subcontracting in France is extensive and dynamic. It is particularly well-developed in the fields of the iron and steel industry, the plastics industry, foundry work, spinning and weaving for the automobile, aeronautical, rail, electronic and textile industries.
French subcontractors provide high-quality services or products as their workforce is highly qualified. Some subcontractors are also chosen for their renown. They are appreciated for their ability to innovate which, nevertheless, would deserve investment in Research and Development which they cannot always carry out because of the need to reduce production costs. - Useful Resources
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Industrial subcontracting trade fair
Identifying a Supplier
French multisector Business directories
All.biz - France - Directory of companies in France
Annuaire des Entreprises de France - Directory of French companies
Le French Tech - French startup directory
The professional pages - B2B directory
The Yellow Pages - Business directory in France
French Marketplaces
Sample of marketplaces incorporated in France (A to Z)
Upcoming Trade shows in France
Other Useful Resources
- Trade Agencies and Their Representations Abroad
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Invest in France
Business France
CCI France International
Contact the French Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom. - Contact Your Commercial Representations in France
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Contact the UK Department for International Trade in France
Contact the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Contact the British Embassy in France.
Organizing Goods Transport To and From France
- Main Useful Means of Transport
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The transport (national and international) of goods in France is dominated by road transport, with more than 2 billion goods transported every year. Road transport of goods is above all practical. Due to the size of the country and its location in the middle of Europe, but also due to its importance as a country with large manufacturing industries, French roads continue to be among the most important for European-wide international road freight transport: 18.3 % of all tonne-kilometres performed in international road freight transport took place in France, according to latest data by Eurostat. Plans for putting trucks on trains and reviving the use of waterways could advance the development of a form of transport other than roads, but their potential remains limited.
International goods transport for its part is dominated by sea transport. This means of transport is economical, and France is easy to access because of its extensive sea coast. Five of the fifteen biggest European ports are located in France; they are linked with each other and serve the other large European centres of consumption in the North and in the South thanks to an extensive network of shipping lines. The ports represent 85% in volume and 66% in value of French foreign trade.
By Sea
- Ports
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Marseille
Le Havre
Dunkerque
Nantes Saint Nazaire
Calais
Rouen
- Transport Professionals
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French federation of maritime freight and sales of vessels brokers
French ship owners
Corsica Linea
- Government Transport Organisations
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Ministry of Ecological Transition
By Air
- Airports
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Paris - Airport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle
- Transport Professionals
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Air France
CCM, Air Corsica
Corsair
French federation of transport and logistics companies
- Government Transport Organisations
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Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition
By Road
- Transport Professionals
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The national federation of road transport
Eurotransfret, directory of transport companies
Transport directory
- Government Transport Organisations
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Ministry of Ecological Transition
By Rail
- Transport Professionals
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Eurotunnel
- Government Transport Organisations
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Ministry of Ecological Transition
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Latest Update: March 2025
