We arrange freight from Mallorca and Ibiza to France in usually 2–4 days: after the overnight crossing to Barcelona it is about 400 km to Toulouse and 510–640 km to Marseille or Lyon (2–3 days in total), and 1,050–1,250 km to Paris, Strasbourg and Lille (3–4 days). We collect anywhere on Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca and deliver to any address in France.
Why is France the fastest foreign destination from the Balearics?
From the islands the load crosses overnight to Barcelona – from Palma and Alcúdia, from Ibiza port and from Mahón – and from the port of Barcelona the French border is close: the AP-7 runs to the La Jonquera / Le Perthus crossing, where the A9 begins. Goods for Occitanie and Provence therefore often arrive on the second or third day after collection, faster than to any other country outside Spain. The trailer usually boards without a driver and another tractor unit couples up in Barcelona. Ibiza and Menorca have fewer departures, so we plan a little slack there.
Which region, and how many days?
| Region | City and main road from the border | approx. km from Barcelona port | Transit from the island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occitanie | Toulouse – A9 to Narbonne, A61 | 400 + ferry | 2–3 days |
| Provence | Marseille – A9 via Montpellier and Nîmes, A54, A7 | 510 + ferry | 2–3 days |
| Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | Lyon – A9 and A7 up the Rhône valley | 640 + ferry | 2–3 days |
| Île-de-France | Paris – via Lyon or Clermont-Ferrand | 1,050 + ferry | 3–4 days |
| Alsace | Strasbourg – via Lyon and Mulhouse | 1,150 + ferry | 3–4 days |
| Hauts-de-France | Lille – via Paris on the A1 | 1,250 + ferry | 3–4 days |
French péage and the Spanish toll on the AP-7 are included in the price we send – nothing is charged on top later.
What if the ship docks on a Saturday?
Vehicles over 7.5 t may not drive in France from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00. On public holidays the ban starts at 22:00 the evening before, and in summer selected Saturdays are restricted during the day as well. If the ferry reaches Barcelona on a Saturday, southern France can usually still be served, but delivery in Paris or Lille often moves to Monday. Spain restricts trucks on some holidays and summer days. French warehouses and retail hubs also mostly accept a truck only at a pre-booked unloading appointment (rendez-vous) – if you have one, send it with your enquiry.
Villa moves and workshop furniture: why we price by loading metre
Many French owners of houses on Menorca and Ibiza move their furniture back to the mainland, and Manacor workshops send solid-wood furniture to interior studios in Lyon or on the Côte d'Azur. Such goods do not sit on pallets, so we price them by loading metre – you pay only for the trailer space they really take. For hillside villas and narrow village streets we book a smaller vehicle and transfer the goods at the port.
- Dismantle furniture where possible and wrap it in blankets and film; put glass tops and mirrors in rigid frames.
- Send a list of the larger items or photos – we work out the loading metres from them.
- Say whether we load from a garage, a terrace or the street, and how much room there is to stop.
- For delivery in France, give the floor, lift and any access limits in the town centre.
Other island goods for the French market
Besides furniture, the Balearics send France beds, furniture and kitchen equipment from hotel refits, which run in winter from November to April; shoes and leather accessories from Inca for Paris boutiques; Binissalem wine, Sóller olive oil and almonds for delicatessens in Marseille and Lyon; and from Ibiza, at the end of the season, club and event equipment for rental companies in Paris and on the Côte d'Azur. A single pallet (0.4 loading metres) can go as groupage, while a full trailer is 13.6 m long and holds 33 euro pallets and about 24 t. We combine goods from several island suppliers in one vehicle, each consignment on its own CMR. The return runs of the weekly line we organise from the Czech Republic to the islands also often let us attach a small consignment to a load heading north from Barcelona.
Delivery terms, paperwork and collection on the island
Under EXW or FCA the French buyer arranges transport and books it with us; under DAP the seller on the island takes care of it. Nothing is cleared between the Balearics and France – the islands belong to Spain, to the EU customs territory and to its VAT area; a CMR and a delivery note or invoice are enough. On the islands loading happens mostly in the morning, in Palma's industrial estates from a dock or from the side, and nothing is loaded on the regional holiday of the Balearic Islands.
How to get a quote
- island, village and type of collection point, loading hours and reference,
- French delivery postcode and any rendez-vous appointment,
- dimensions and weight, number of pallets or a furniture list,
- when the goods are ready.
During office hours we come back with a price within 30 minutes; after you confirm, we usually arrange the transport within 24 hours and tie the island departure to the next ship. Transport within France is covered on transport to France, the line to the islands on transport to Mallorca and Ibiza. From the Balearics we also arrange freight to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, to Germany, to Austria and to Italy.
Shipping from the Balearics to France again and again, perhaps every season? We set a fixed loading schedule with a ferry connection – see regular transport or write to us.
Related guides: Furniture transport · Preparing pallets · Importing goods from the EU