LE HAVRE SEINE DEVELOPPEMENT

The logistics sector in Le Havre

Thanks to its port and the significant development that has taken place in the logistics sector, Le Havre is now a key location for logistics centres.

With 20 million consumers within a 300 km radius, the port city lies at the heart of France’s largest consumer catchment area. A pool of skilled labour, dedicated infrastructure and suitable warehouses: Le Havre offers all the advantages needed to set up a logistics centre. 600 logistics companies are already based in Le Havre and the surrounding region.

A metropolitan area strongly focused on logistics

The Port of Le Havre is Europe’s ^leading port for imports, with 75 regular shipping routes operated by more than 50 shipping lines. A port of the future with an investment plan worth several million euros, the Port of Le Havre is also the headquarters of HAROPA, which brings together the ports of Rouen and Paris.

Among the local networks and training centres in Le Havre are:

• The Institut Supérieur d’Etudes Logistiques (ISEL), one of five schools in France awarding the degree of Logistics Engineer
• Maritime and port-related: the campus of the École Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM) and the Institut Portuaire d’Enseignement et de Recherche (IPER)
• The Comptoir de la Logistique, a logistics engineering promotion centre managed by ISEL
• The CRITT Transport & Logistics, a centre for consultancy and innovation in logistics
• Nov@log, the only competitiveness cluster dedicated to logistics and the supply chain

All commercial property for logistics in Le Havre

Commercial property in Le Havre comprises:

• 400,000 m² of warehouse space available in the short and medium term
• Over 2 million m² of warehouses dedicated to logistics, the supply chain and e-commerce
• 92,000 m² of new-build, state-of-the-art XXL warehouse developments
• Favourable tax regimes for investment and operations, and competitive prices

All freight transport for logistics in Le Havre

Le Havre’s transport performance:

• A congestion-free port complex with container turnaround times of less than 5 days
• Seamless connection to the European motorway network
• Rapid goods transit times (BAS) and customs clearance
• Smooth terminal traffic thanks to appointment-based systems
• VAT exemption and reverse charge for imported VAT

A wealth of employment opportunities and expertise in logistics in Le Havre

The Port of Le Havre benefits from local expertise in logistics, with 600 companies and 17,000 professionals representing 9% of jobs in the Le Havre area.

Le Havre is also a hub of innovation, thanks to its experts working to optimise logistics, its higher education programmes in logistics engineering (ISEL) and its collective project, ‘Le Havre Smart Port City’.

A full range of solutions for decarbonising logistics in Le Havre

The Port of Le Havre offers innovative solutions through its carbon footprint management module (S) One Green) to implement a corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy.

In particular, it offers alternative fuels for land and sea transport, is installing electric charging points and is introducing electrification of the berths to reduce CO₂ emissions.

Logistics companies based in Le Havre

They have chosen Le Havre as the location to develop their logistics operations:

• Katoen Natie
• Cedilec
• Gefco
• Challenge International
• Alsei
• DB Schenker
• DHL
• XP Log
• Panalpina
• Vatinel Heppner Logistics

The industrial sector in Le Havre

In a region with a long industrial history, the Le Havre Metropolitan Area offers development opportunities for businesses in the chemical and petrochemical sectors, mechanical engineering, logistics and aerospace.

Developing your industrial business in Le Havre means benefiting from suitable infrastructure, specialist networks, high-calibre training centres and sites tailored to industrial activities: the Hautes Falaises Business Park, the Le Mesnil Business Park, and the Le Havre Industrial and Port Zone…

A metropolitan area with a strong industrial heritage

The city of Le Havre and its surrounding region boast a strong industrial heritage, centred on:

• mechanical engineering
• metallurgy
• aerospace
• the chemical industry (particularly bio-based) and petrochemicals

Support and innovation organisations in Le Havre

Le Havre Metropolitan Area supports innovative businesses in their development through a number of organisations:

• Next Move, a competitiveness cluster specialising in R&D in Mobility and Automotive
• GREAH, the University of Le Havre’s research laboratory specialising in electrical engineering and automation
• LH3D, a local fablab for prototyping small parts
• The Smart Industry theme of Normandy FrenchTech, an association for digital development in Normandy
• A testing ground for industrial CO₂ capture: the Sedibex–Insa pilot project and the EDF demonstration project, which forms part of the European ECCSEL network
• R&D centres dedicated to the development of new products: Total (fuels and lubricants), Chevron (additives), PPG Coatings (paints and varnishes), C2MC (composite matrices)
• Inter-company clusters to facilitate integration, resource-sharing and innovation (Nov&atech / France Chimie...)

Industrial logistics in Le Havre

One of Le Havre’s strengths lies in its logistics capabilities and services tailored to industry: Le Havre is France’s leading port for foreign trade, container traffic and new vehicle shipments. As such, Le Havre has suitable infrastructure, including a waterway capable of handling large vessels (up to 3,000 tonnes), 13 berths and lifting equipment.

In addition to the port, Le Havre has a truly pan-European multimodal transport network with:

• nearly 130 ports connected via short-sea services,
• more than 60 rail services per week to 15 European destinations,
• more than 40 river services per week

The chemical industry

As France’s leading chemical hub, handling over 5 million products a year, Le Havre has committed to innovation to transform itself into a testing ground, particularly in the field of _CO₂ capture_.

It draws on a network of R&D centres dedicated to developing new products and a number of innovative players such as, for example, Estener, France’s leading producer of advanced biodiesel derived from animal fats unfit for human consumption, and Osilub, a patented process for the re-refining of used engine oils.

Emphasis has also been placed on quantifying available biomass resources: proximity to the Tereos plant, the world’s ^{second-largest} sugar group; the harvesting and utilisation of 1.3 million ^m³ in the timber sector; and so on.

Industrial companies based in Le Havre

More than 250 businesses, accounting for over 11 jobs, have chosen Le Havre as a base for their growth.

• Safran Nacelles
• Altran
• Ingeliance
• Segula
• Matis Technologies
• Renault
• Dresser-Rand
• Fouré Lagadec
• Paganetti
• Ponticelli
• Siemens Gamesa

The aerospace sector in the Le Havre metropolitan area

In Normandy, France’s ^{third-largest} aerospace region, Le Havre has developed an ecosystem to enable entrepreneurs in the sector to get off to a flying start under the best possible conditions.  Drones, civil aviation, MRO, maintenance… the Le Havre metropolitan area offers genuine development opportunities to virtually all players in the sector.

At the heart of Le Havre’s strategy lies innovation, driven by the Normandie AeroEspace network, the Normandy Drone Innovation Centre, as well as centres of excellence and engineering consultancies specialising in the aerospace sector…

An innovative and high-performing ecosystem

Le Havre-Octeville Airport offers a 10-hectare site to accommodate economic and leisure activities. In addition to activities related to public services and leisure (microlights, helicopters, skydiving, etc.), it will soon, as part of the investment project by the Le Havre Seine Métropole urban community, provide office space as well as hangars for repair and maintenance operations. :

The development of a ‘drone’ ecosystem, spearheaded by the Normandy Drone Innovation Centre, is also enabling research into swarm flights using on-board artificial intelligence and sensor integration: air quality, stock-taking in logistics warehouses…. as well as designated areas for conducting flight tests.

A pool of jobs and training opportunities in the aeronautics sector

With a population of some 350,000, the Le Havre Metropolitan Area offers:

• a skilled workforce through vocational courses accredited by Normandie Aérospace.
• A vocational baccalaureate in aeronautics (structure specialism) and a pilot’s licence (Lavoisir and Jeann d’Arc secondary schools)
• A diverse range of skills among local service providers: electrical engineering, industrial painting, maintenance, metalwork, composite materials…
• Synergies with related sectors: energy, automotive, precision engineering…

A diverse range of property options

In addition to the hangars at Le Havre-Octeville Airport (one 1,200 m² hangar and three independent hangars ranging from 250 to 680 m², the offering is complemented by a new 978 m² hangar suitable for commercial use, as well as the hangars belonging to the Jean Maridor Flying Club (1,150 m²) and Abeille Parachutisme (1,300 m²).

An environment well-suited to hosting events (the ^70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the Patrouille de France, etc.)

Aviation companies based in Le Havre

In Normandy, the sector comprises nearly 220 organisations, providing over 13,000 jobs. Le Havre is home to nearly 30% of the sector’s workforce, employed by a number of major players and subcontractors such as:

• Safran Nacelles
• Aircelle
• Shark Aéro France
• Safran
• Ingeliance Technologies

The digital sector and ICT in Le Havre

Just two hours from Paris, on the shores of the English Channel, Le Havre is a welcoming city for service and digital companies. With a labour market catchment area of 350,000 people, the city is already home to both major companies and start-ups, including Webaxys, Meilleurtaux.com and Altran, amongst others.

Le Havre’s strengths for your digital business

In Le Havre, you’ll find a thriving digital ecosystem: the cities of Le Havre, Caen and Rouen were awarded the FrenchTech label in June 2015.

This French Tech ecosystem brings together institutions and organisations aimed at facilitating and accelerating the development of start-ups across Normandy, such as:

• Normandigital, the Normandy network of digital professionals
• LH3D, the fablab for the production of small parts and 3D printing (one of the few French fablabs affiliated with MIT)
• The headquarters of the NOV@log competitiveness cluster, specialising in logistics

A symbol of this momentum is the Cité Numérique. Launched in 2020, this iconic facility, situated at the heart of the city-centre campus, aims to foster the creation and growth of innovative projects within the region by bringing together in a single location business nurseries, incubators, schools and training centres such as Want-School (specialising in responsible digital professions) and École 42 (IT development). The Cité Numérique is already proving to be the perfect complement to the regional data hub project, due to be launched in 2024, which forms part of the region’s strategy to promote the emergence of a Normandy-based data ecosystem. Numerous fablabs have also set up in the region, including one on the campus of ISEL (Higher Institute of Logistics Studies).

Le Havre’s strengths for your service-based businesses

For companies providing services to industry, Le Havre offers the advantage of being close to potential partners and clients across all sectors: automotive, aerospace, chemicals, energy, logistics, port operations…(Safran, Renault, Total, Dresser Rand, Siemens, Auxitec Ingénierie, Olvea)…

Moreover, over 1,200 organisations active in industrial services are based in Le Havre’s industrial and port zone

Le Havre offers the same tailored support solutions for service companies.

The agri-food sector in Le Havre

A region with a long history of agriculture and the agri-food industry, Normandy is home to hundreds of companies, including Ferrero, Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis…

As the leading region for cream, butter, fresh cheeses and soft cheeses, Normandy also accounts for 20% of France’s fish catch (it is the third-largest region for the fishing industry).

Developing your agri-food business in Le Havre means benefiting from suitable infrastructure (extensive transport and cold-storage capacity, global import/export facilities), specialised networks (Area Normandie, Valorial Competitiveness Cluster) and sites suited to processing and logistics activities.

Western France is Europe’s leading agri-food hub. It is home to over 700 companies, including Labeyrie Fine Food, Ferrero, Nestlé, Danone, Lactalis and Agrial…

Le Havre offers the advantage of being close to France’s two major agri-food regions (Brittany and Pays-de-la-Loire: livestock farming, cereal cultivation and market gardening) and is just 200 km from the international Rungis market, which handles over 1.62 million tonnes of food products per year and serves 18 million consumers.

A port and logistics hub for the agri-food sector in Le Havre

The Port of Le Havre is France’s leading reefer port (refrigerated freight). From Le Havre, there are connections to over 600 ports across five continents.

In particular, it has a storage capacity of 550,000 m² at both positive and negative temperatures (between –26°C and 15°C).

Le Havre’s strengths for your agri-food business

If you’re looking to grow your agri-food business in Normandy, Le Havre offers a thriving labour market:

• FODIPA professional bachelor’s degree in ‘Formulation & Industrial Development of Food Products’ at the University of Le Havre
• Proximity to UniLasalle, an internationally recognised centre of higher education for agriculture, the agri-food sector, health and nutrition, the environment and geosciences
• Other locally available courses include: Bio-processing Industries, Food Science and Technology, Biological Engineering (specialising in Agri-Food and Organic Industries), Industrial Equipment Maintenance, Production Systems Maintenance, LCQ Quality Control Laboratory, Bio-industries and Biotechnology, Packaging Adaptation and Design, Technical Sales Representative for Food and Beverage Products, Transport and Logistics Services...

Support and innovation organisations in Le Havre

To help develop your agri-food business in Normandy, you will find support and innovation organisations in Le Havre: 

• AREA Normandie, the Normandy agri-food industry cluster
• Valorial Competitiveness Cluster (Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Normandy)
• The Normandy French Tech label, focusing in particular on ‘Smart Industries’
• Nov&atech (a Normandy-based cluster dedicated to innovative uses of biomass)
• Agro-hall, a technology resource centre dedicated to the agri-food and cosmetics sectors

Agri-food companies based in Le Havre

They have chosen Le Havre to develop their agri-food businesses in Normandy:

• Olvea
• Delpierre (Labeyrie Fine Food)
• Traiteur de Paris
• Café Légal
• Slaur Sardet
• Orientis Gourmet (Kusmi Tea and Lov Organic teas)
• Danone Baby Nutrition Africa & Overseas
• Hautot Chocolate
• Cedilec
• Valois (HSE rums)…

The Industrial Services Sector in Le Havre

With over 1,400 industrial establishments in the Le Havre employment area, businesses operating in the services sector benefit from a vibrant ecosystem conducive to their growth. Establishments with more than 50 employees alone account for nearly 20,000 jobs within the region.

A particularly diverse ecosystem

Awarded the “Territoire d’industrie” label, the Seine corridor contributes to the development of renowned industrial players in a wide range of fields:

• Chemicals (particularly bio-based) & Petrochemicals
• Aerospace
• Energy
• ...

In total, industrial activities in Normandy generate more than 17.1 billion in added value.

A particularly competitive property market

Commercial property in Le Havre offers:

• An average rental cost a quarter of that in the Paris region
• Business incubators and business centres, co-working spaces, flexible workspaces...
• New office developments currently under construction
• Business parks connected to the road network and close to major employers

A remarkable labour market and quality of life

Le Havre has over 70,000 jobs in retail, transport and services.

The training courses on offer are particularly diverse to meet all needs: science & technology, IT, QHSE, maritime, civil engineering…

With an average commute of less than 20 minutes (compared to 26 minutes in comparable urban areas) and a range of sporting activities (kitesurfing, rowing, stand-up paddleboarding, etc.) as well as cultural attractions (Le Volcan, the Muma, etc.), the region offers an exceptional quality of life in a well-preserved environment, as Le Havre is also one of France’s greenest cities, with 750 hectares of green spaces.

Investing to transform the Le Havre metropolitan area

• 241 million invested to transform industrial and port cities
• Le Havre Smart Port City, winner of the government’s ‘Territoires d’innovation’ call for projects
• Creation of facilities, data platforms, demonstration projects and training programmes to facilitate the roll-out of new services for businesses and residents...

Service sector businesses based in Le Havre

They have chosen Le Havre to develop their business:

• Auxitec
• Altran
• Ingeliance
• Petroval
• Emerson

The Eco-activities sector in Le Havre

With 58 initiatives, 82 businesses involved and over 1,000 jobs created, the Ecological and Industrial Transition Pact signed on 13 January 2020 by Le Havre Seine Métropole and 10 partners has been a major milestone in the region’s commitment to this cause. Prioritising a collaborative approach, it aims to consolidate the innovative solutions developed by the region’s economic stakeholders. It is being rolled out across a wide range of sectors, including transport, energy, the environment, attractiveness, competitiveness, decarbonisation and social innovation.

A dynamic ecosystem

As exemplified by the ‘Le Havre, Smart Port City’ project, this commitment aims to recognise the work of those who are innovating to establish new ways of collaborating and to position Le Havre Seine Métropole as a national and international benchmark amongst industrial and port cities by 2030.

As the 2019 winner of the ‘Territoires d’innovation’ call for proposals, Le Havre and its partners are working across five key areas:

• Optimising the flow of goods and the mobility of professionals and employees around the Axe Seine industrial and port area
• Promoting the roll-out and use of green energy, and improving the assessment of environmental quality by the stakeholders themselves
• Facilitating data exchange and processing to create new services for businesses and residents
• Enhancing quality of life to attract students, talent and visitors on a long-term basis
• Support the emergence of new professions and jobs

This momentum continues, as the region has recently launched a Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) on the theme of ‘Smart and Sustainable Region’ to find partners (start-ups, innovative SMEs, etc.) and solution providers to support it in its energy transition and its ambition to become a self-sufficient region.

Recycling and waste recovery

In addition to establishing a centre of excellence for the recovery of marine waste in Fécamp, the region benefits from a particularly effective ecosystem and infrastructure. As France’s leading centre for the recycling of industrial waste, waste oil and waste containing heavy metals, Normandy also draws on expertise and innovative processes in the fields of energy recovery, the recovery of rare metals, ship dismantling and the recycling of engine oils.

The proximity of major waste sources also promotes the development of the sector in the region. With over 20 million consumers within a 300-kilometre radius, the region stands as the leading consumer market in France and the second largest in Europe.