Sea Freight from China to Le Tampon, Reunion — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Le Tampon · via RUN air / Port Reunion sea · clearance by Douane française (EU customs territory)
For buyers shipping into Le Tampon, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Le Tampon is interior highland municipality; cargo enters through RUN air / Port Reunion sea, and allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.
The clearing authority is Douane française (EU customs territory). Historical dwell on this gateway is around 3–8 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
Duty, tax and clearance into Le Tampon
Douane française (EU customs territory) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Le Tampon 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.
How this lane actually runs
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.
| Sea gateways used | Port Réunion (Le Port) |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 24–34 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Le Tampon | RUN air / Port Reunion sea |
| Inland leg to Le Tampon | +1 day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Pre-shipment checklist for Le Tampon
- Confirm the consignee in Le Tampon can act as importer of record — Douane française (EU customs territory) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: CE marking under EU rules; French labelling requirements.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- 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.
- Budget for the inland leg: +1 day beyond gateway clearance to reach Le Tampon.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Le Tampon take?
China to the Reunion gateway is 24–34 calendar days. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with Douane française (EU customs territory) and a +1 day inland leg to Le Tampon.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Le Tampon?
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 Tampon.
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.
What documents does Douane française (EU customs territory) require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (CE marking under EU rules; French labelling requirements). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Which port or airport does cargo for Le Tampon clear through?
Cargo for Le Tampon is routed via RUN air / Port Reunion sea. Sea gateways for Reunion are Port Réunion (Le Port); air gateways are RUN (Saint-Denis Roland Garros). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
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 Tampon
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.