Paris has no seaport of its own for ocean containers, so Indian dehydrated onion and garlic for a Paris buyer usually arrive at Le Havre, clear there, and travel up the Seine valley. The French rules are set out in our guide to importing into France.
Le Havre and the Seine axis
Le Havre, Rouen and the river ports of Paris operate together as HAROPA Port. Containers from India arrive at Le Havre in roughly four to six weeks, and the customs and health checks happen there. Le Havre was one of the two ports where French customs took over food import checks from the DGCCRF first, in November 2021, so brokers there know the procedure well.
From Le Havre, containers go to the Paris region by truck, by rail or by barge to river terminals such as Gennevilliers. Barge is slower but can suit planned, non-urgent stock. Some Paris importers also clear in Antwerp and truck goods in, which can be practical but means the Belgian authorities do the border check.
Who buys onion and garlic in the Paris region
The Paris region is France's largest food market and the base of many national food distributors, ready meal makers and catering companies. Rungis, south of Paris, is one of the largest wholesale food markets in the world and supplies a large share of the city's restaurants. Powder and granules go into sauces, ready meals and seasoning blends, while chopped and minced onion is used by caterers and in prepared salads and soups.
Paris also has a large South Asian food trade around La Chapelle in the 10th and 18th arrondissements, and many Asian grocery wholesalers in the 13th. Ethnic food distributors often want smaller mixed lots and retail-ready packs, which changes the packing spec compared with factory supply. Retail packs also need full French labels and a clear best-before date, so agree those details before the plant starts packing.
SIAL Paris, a large international food trade fair held at Paris Nord Villepinte in even-numbered years, is where many French buyers and distributors meet new suppliers.
French labels
Anything sold to consumers needs its mandatory information in French. If you supply retail packs, agree the French label text and have it checked before printing in India. For bulk bags, put the product name, lot, origin and storage instructions in French as well as English, because French warehouses and auditors expect it.
Storage
The Paris climate is milder and less humid than the Mediterranean coast, but containers can pick up condensation on the voyage. Open and inspect powder on arrival, check liners for damage, and keep a moisture limit on the spec. See how cartons, liners and bags are used.
Elsewhere in France
For the southern route and the Mediterranean food trade, see our guide for Marseille.
How Creston helps
We audit plants in Gujarat, have every lot tested at an NABL-accredited lab to EU limits, supervise loading and check documents and French bag labels before shipment, for one written fee agreed in advance. See our dehydrated onion page, then book a free sourcing review.