Rouen and La Rochelle grain ports report stronger 2025/2026 cereal campaign
France’s two main cereal ports recorded a strong recovery in the 2025/2026 campaign after a disastrous previous season. Rouen handled 8.4 million tonnes, while La Rochelle approached 3.7 million tonnes, supported by wheat, barley and renewed maize shipments.
French cereal shipments recover from a weak season
France’s two largest cereal ports, Haropa Port Rouen and the Grand Port Maritime de La Rochelle, are closing the 2025/2026 campaign with sharply higher volumes. Ports et Corridors reported that FranceAgriMer data available at the end of May indicated 25.4 million tonnes of cereals loaded across French ports. The improvement comes against the low base of a 2024/2025 campaign described as disastrous.
Ports on the Seine axis handled 8.4 million tonnes during the campaign, according to Haropa Port. That was 61% above the previous season’s 5.2 million tonnes and exceeded Rouen’s ten-year average of 7.4 million tonnes. Haropa said the port retained a 50% share of French cereal exports, while the campaign ranked as its third best on record.
Morocco leads Rouen’s destinations
Morocco was Rouen’s largest destination, receiving 2.6 million tonnes. China ranked second with 578,000 tonnes, followed by Côte d’Ivoire with 520,000 tonnes. At regional level, the Maghreb accounted for 3.4 million tonnes, European Union countries for 1.5 million tonnes and West Africa for 1.3 million tonnes. Haropa Port said the war in the Middle East had no significant effect on exports.
Milling and feed wheat dominated Rouen’s shipments at 5.6 million tonnes, while barley reached 2.6 million tonnes. Haropa attributed the export growth to quality and competitiveness. The port also shipped 600,000 tonnes of oilseed and protein crops and malt, although these volumes were reported separately from its cereal total.
Kris Danaradjou, deputy chief executive of Haropa Port, credited farmers in the port’s hinterland and logistics operators for the performance, describing exports as an important asset for the French economy. The figures underline Rouen’s central role in moving grain from northern France to North African, Asian and West African buyers.
La Rochelle approaches 3.7 million tonnes
Preliminary figures presented at the maritime commodities meeting on June 19 put La Rochelle’s campaign volume at about 3.7 million tonnes, one million tonnes more than in the preceding campaign. Vincent Poudevigne, chief executive of Sica Atlantique, said the port benefited from soft-wheat and barley harvests close to normal levels. Sica Atlantique handled 2.1 million tonnes, and maize exports also returned through La Rochelle during the campaign.
Socomac, a subsidiary of Soufflet Négoce by InVivo, handled 1.6 million tonnes, up 300,000 tonnes or 23% year on year. Its traffic comprised 750,000 tonnes of soft wheat, 400,000 tonnes of feed barley, 280,000 tonnes of maize and 110,000 tonnes of malting barley. European countries, including the United Kingdom, received 45% of Socomac’s volume, while Morocco, China and Côte d’Ivoire accounted for the remaining 55%. Rail carried 30% of the company’s pre-carriage flows.
La Rochelle also handled 145,000 tonnes for animal feed. EVA, owned by Maritim Kuhn and Sica Atlantique, had to mobilise additional storage areas to meet demand. Despite the stronger campaign, Poudevigne cited the drought-affected 2026 harvest, geopolitical conditions and regulatory constraints as concerns for the next period. The port’s recent recovery therefore improves its market position but does not remove supply and operating risks for exporters and terminal operators.
