Shanghai (Yangshan / Waigaoqiao)
Yangshan and Waigaoqiao exports under Shanghai MSA's photo-verified packing system, where a mismatch between photos and EDI data keeps a DG box off the ship.
Europe · sea freight from Shanghai
Shipping from Shanghai to Bayonne
Shanghai to Bayonne
East China Sea · Taiwan Strait · Malacca Strait · Indian Ocean · Bab-el-Mandeb · Suez Canal · Strait of Gibraltar · Bay of Biscay
- ShanghaiChina origin
- East China Sea
- Taiwan Strait
- Malacca Strait
- Indian Ocean
- Bab-el-Mandeb
- Suez Canal
- Strait of Gibraltar
- Bay of Biscay
- BayonneFrance
This route runs from the Yangtze River Delta via Shanghai's Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals, then follows a lane whose routing, Suez or Cape of Good Hope, is decided service by service; at the far end is the port of Bayonne.
The French side checks the producer's unique identifier (IDU) as well as the EU battery rules. This page sets out 5 points specific to this route, how Anxin handles each one and which documents to prepare.
What we need to start
- Photo-verified packing certificate
- Yangshan / Waigaoqiao export
- French-language safety information
- Consignee EORI
- EU declaration of conformity
Route profile
What sets Shanghai → Bayonne apart
Asia – North & Atlantic Europe
The map shows the Suez corridor, but in September 2026 most Asia–North Europe capacity still sails round the Cape of Good Hope.
Where this route gets difficult
5 pain points from Shanghai to Bayonne
In the order the cargo meets them: at the loading port, at sea, at Bayonne and at customs in France.
- Origin port
Shanghai MSA spot-checks after the filing too
Shanghai MSA's Notice No. 4 of 2024 lets the shipper use either an inspector-signed packing certificate or a packing declaration from the stuffing company, but the responsibility stays with the shipper: UN-tested batteries, protected against damage, short circuit and accidental activation. MSA spot-checks during and after the process and can ask for proof.
What Anxin does: We keep a file per container (UN38.3 summary, SDS, packing photos, terminal protection details) so that proof can be produced the same day if Shanghai MSA asks for it after sailing.
- Sea corridor
The inbound leg's emissions now count under EU ETS
Because Bayonne is an EU port, container ships of 5,000 GT or more calling there fall under the EU Emissions Trading System, which covers half the emissions of the voyage from China. Lines surrendered allowances for 70% of those emissions in 2025 and must cover 100% from 2027, a cost that can reach shippers as a surcharge.
What Anxin does: We ask for the emissions surcharge to be shown as its own line in the quote, with the basis the carrier uses, so that successive quotes can be compared like for like.
- Import country
CE marking and a declaration of conformity in the right language
The importer in France carries the check: CE marking on the battery and an EU declaration of conformity, translated into the language France asks for, have both been required since 18 August 2024 for batteries entering the EU market.
What Anxin does: We ask the manufacturer in China for the declaration of conformity and a photo of the CE marking on the battery or its packaging before loading, and pass them to the France importer. We check that the documents exist and match the goods; we do not assess conformity.
- Import country
The truck leg out of Bayonne runs under ADR
Road delivery from Bayonne is an ADR movement, because the EU applies ADR to domestic journeys through Directive 2008/68/EC. For UN 3480 that means class 9, transport category 2 and tunnel code (E), which restricts the route through category E tunnels; batteries found damaged at unloading move to special provision 376 packing (P908 or P911).
What Anxin does: We give the France haulier the same UN number, class and package details that appear on the sea dangerous goods declaration, so the ADR transport document matches the container paperwork from Shanghai.
- Import country
Due diligence on battery raw materials from August 2027
Regulation (EU) 2025/1561 pushed the Battery Regulation's due diligence duties for cobalt, lithium, nickel and natural graphite back to 18 August 2027 and gave the Commission until 26 July 2026 for its guidelines. Buyers in France are already collecting the supply-chain information they will need.
What Anxin does: We pass the France buyer's due diligence questions to the manufacturer and keep their answers with the shipment file; the policy itself remains the producer's responsibility.
Documents & compliance
What to have ready: Shanghai to Bayonne
Test reports, safety data sheets and import certificates come from the shipper, factory and importer, not from Anxin; our part is to review them before booking.
In Shanghai, before the box is loaded
- Per-container evidence file (UN38.3 summary, SDS, photos, short-circuit protection) kept for Shanghai MSA spot checks
- Transport-condition classification report where applicable
- Load plan showing even weight distribution (no more than 60% of the cargo weight in either half of the container length)
- EU declaration of conformity and CE marking photo from the manufacturer
- Importer name, trade name and postal address printed on battery or packaging
Carrier and voyage
- Routing (Suez or Cape of Good Hope) and any transhipment port stated on the booking confirmation
- Consignee EORI and HS-level description to the ENS filer before loading
- UN 38.3 test summary for every cell and battery type
For import into France
- Haulier in France briefed with UN number, class 9 and tunnel code (E) for the road leg
- Label and QR-code status against the August 2026 and February 2027 dates
- Instructions and safety information in the language France requires
Before you book
One consistent file
A document that is present but inconsistent holds a booking as surely as a missing one: the UN number, model name or carton count reads differently in the Shanghai export filings, the carrier booking and the France import papers. We compare all three before confirming space.
Carriers we book with
Our booking panel; availability on this lane and acceptance of the declared UN numbers are confirmed for each booking. It does not mean that a listed carrier runs a direct service on this route. Carrier choice depends on the trade lane, cargo classification and each carrier's dangerous-goods acceptance at booking. The final carrier is confirmed on the booking.
Risk & mitigation
What could go wrong from Shanghai to Bayonne, and who acts
| Risk | Where | Mitigation | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-event spot check finds missing proof | Shanghai MSA | Evidence file kept per container | Shipper with Anxin |
| Emissions surcharge changes between quote and sailing | EU port call | Surcharge shown as a separate line with its basis | Carrier, checked by Anxin |
| Declaration of conformity missing or not in the required language | Importer in France | Declaration and CE photo collected before loading | Manufacturer / importer |
| Road route planned through a category E tunnel | Road leg from Bayonne | Tunnel code (E) passed to the haulier with the transport data | Haulier / forwarder |
Questions
Shanghai → Bayonne: questions we are asked
ADR, which the EU applies to domestic journeys through Directive 2008/68/EC. UN 3480 is class 9, transport category 2, with tunnel restriction code (E).
It depends on the service. In September 2026 most Asia–North Europe capacity still sailed round the Cape of Good Hope; Sea-Intelligence put the Red Sea share for North Europe vessels at 27%. We ask the carrier to confirm the routing on the booking and quote each routing separately.
Shanghai MSA's Notice No. 4 of 2024 accepts either an inspector-signed packing certificate or a packing declaration issued by the stuffing company. Either way, the shipper remains responsible and must provide proof if MSA spot-checks.
References
Official sources for this page
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries (ELI) (EUR-Lex / Publications Office of the EU)
- Regulation (EU) 2025/1561 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 as regards due diligence obligations (EUR-Lex / Publications Office of the EU)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries (Official Journal PDF) (EUR-Lex / Publications Office of the EU)
- Inland transport of dangerous goods (summary of Directive 2008/68/EC) (EUR-Lex)
- Reducing emissions from the shipping sector (European Commission (DG Climate Action))
- Shanghai MSA Notice No. 4 of 2024 on declaring lithium battery dangerous-goods containers (Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration)
Next step
From enquiry to import
- 1EnquiryCargo, origin, destination
- 2Documents checkUN 38.3, SDS, packing
- 3BookingAfter carrier acceptance
- 4HandoverAt Shanghai
- 5ImportClearance at Bayonne
Prefer chat? Chat on WhatsApp (+86 151 4514 5178)
After you send it
We check carrier acceptance for Shanghai → Bayonne before any booking, and ask for missing battery documents first.
All destinations from Shanghai · France ports
Need Shanghai → Bayonne reviewed?
Share the cargo facts; we review the route in writing.
Request a Quote