Air Freight from China to Le Port, Reunion — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Le Port · via RUN air / Port Reunion sea · clearance by Douane française (EU customs territory)
Le Port is the container port district, and it is served through RUN air / Port Reunion sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Douane française (EU customs territory) handles clearance; budget 3–8 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
What you will pay on arrival in Reunion
Douane française (EU customs territory) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Le Port consignees. Current regime: Reduced VAT of 8.5% plus octroi de mer — a local dock due of 6.5–60% that is unique to the French overseas departments, with a de-minimis position of EUR 150 for duty; VAT applies from the first euro.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: CE marking under EU rules; French labelling requirements. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Reunion: Octroi de mer is the dominant cost element and varies by product and local production status. EU rules otherwise apply in full, including CE marking and French labelling.
What the routing looks like in practice
Réunion is part of the EU customs territory, so EU tariff and CE marking rules apply — but the octroi de mer dock due, which does not exist in mainland France, can add far more to landed cost than the customs duty itself. Its rate depends on whether an equivalent product is made locally, so classification research genuinely pays here.
| Air gateways used | RUN (Saint-Denis Roland Garros) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 5–8 business days |
| Gateway serving Le Port | RUN air / Port Reunion sea |
| Inland leg to Le Port | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Reunion duty rate against it yourself.
- Confirm the consignee in Le Port can act as importer of record — Douane française (EU customs territory) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Put the Le Port delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: CE marking under EU rules; French labelling requirements.
- Check the de-minimis position (EUR 150 for duty; VAT applies from the first euro) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Le Port take?
China to the Reunion gateway is 5–8 business days. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with Douane française (EU customs territory) and a same-day inland leg to Le Port.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Le Port?
Douane française (EU customs territory) applies: Reduced VAT of 8.5% plus octroi de mer — a local dock due of 6.5–60% that is unique to the French overseas departments. The de-minimis position is EUR 150 for duty; VAT applies from the first euro. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Le Port.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Le Port?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via RUN (Saint-Denis Roland Garros). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Le Port?
Yes. Delivery to a Le Port address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Douane française (EU customs territory), and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
What certification do I need for Reunion?
For regulated goods, plan for: CE marking under EU rules; French labelling requirements. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
When is the busiest time on the China–Reunion lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Other delivery cities in Reunion
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Reunion change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Douane française (EU customs territory) or your broker before you ship.
- Douane française
- Octroi de mer — French overseas dock dues
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Le Port
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.