Logistics & Transport

Provence, A Leader in Transportation 

With more than 1700 establishments devoted to logistics and larger percentage of employment in the sector (40 000 jobs) than the French average, the transport and logistics ecosystem plays a main role in the Aix-Marseille-Provence economy.

The vibrancy of the logistics and transportation sector is due to the quality and diversity of its infrastructure:

• The Port of Marseille-Fos is capable of handling all types of merchandise and is pursuing a diversification strategy for its maritime traffic.
• The Marseille-Provence Airport is experiencing continued growth and will become more attractive with its upcoming investment program.
• The River Port of Arles is the leading inland port on the Saône-Rhône axis and its access to the sea provides vast economic opportunities.

The Bouches-du-Rhône Department is home to all forms of logistics operations: international logistics in connection with port activity, industrial logistics (chemicals/food), and urban logistics and distribution, especially in relation to population density and the large cities of Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, and Arles. The department also stands out for having attracted the largest number of foreign investments in the region in terms of the transport and warehousing sector.

Key figures for Logistics in Provence

• France’s biggest port with an overall traffic of 75 million goods in 2021 (1.5 million TEU)
• France’s second biggest airport in terms of air freight (after Paris)
• Five major logistics parks for businesses: Clésud, Saint Martin de Crau, Distriport, Feuillane, Parc de la Crau;
• 3 million m² of space within the large logistics zones.

Provence's Logistics Advantage

• An international network of exchange: 65 regular maritime connections link the Port of Marseille-Fos to more than 460 other ports serving nearly 160 countries in the world. The Marseille Provence Airport provides flights to 103 destinations throughout the world.
   
• An easily accessible region by land and air: France’s high speed train, the TGV Méditerranée, makes daily trips to Paris, Strasbourg, Brussels, and Barcelona, while the Marseille Provence Airport offers daily flights to 26 other cities.
   

• The presence of major logistics leaders, including 13 of the world's 25 largest shipping companies: Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM (the third largest shipping company in the world, with its global headquarters in Marseille), UASC, Zim, Evergreen, China Shipping, Hutchison, Hanjin Shipping , Cosco, CSCL, NYK Line, Hyundai, Merchant Marine ...
   
• Major port and airport investment plans focusing on equipment renewal, modernization of logistics platforms and increased access to new destinations. 
   
• A wide range of training and education for the transport and logistics sector ranging from Certified Logistics Professional programs to Masters programs with, for example, the Logistics and Transport Management Department of Aix-en-Provence, the Master's program of IAE Logistics and Strategy Management, the French Maritime Academy for Merchant Marines, or the AFT-IFTIM FC, a reference in the field of training for transport and logistics professions.