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Strikes broke out all over France a few weeks ago in protest of a labour reform bill that would make it easier to lay off workers and cut overtime pay. French labour unions and dock workers going on strike is nothing new. Almost the exact same type, frequency, and location of French labor union and dock worker riots happened back in 2010. The frequent protests do have an impact, though not necessarily on the bills they're protesting. The impact hits the essential resources needed to keep France running.

Several ships had to redirect or come to a complete halt at many of France's largest ports, which have had ten separate 24-hour shutdowns over the past few weeks. Le Havre, Lorient, and the announced shutdown at Marseille-Fos this week, which was the last in a series of blockades planned by dock worker and union authorities. More are expected in the upcoming weeks. "CGT members at the CIM voted to extend their strike until Friday and will meet again tomorrow," CGT union official Thierry Defrense said on June 9th.

The transportation of energy resources from suppliers and shippers to businesses slows down as well; causing fuel shortages in more than 20% of France after the riots broke out on May 23rd. The map of station shortage locations accompanying this article provides an indication of the extent to which the fuel transportation industry has been affected by the strikes.

The widespread shutdowns have had such large numbers of dock workers' support due to the overwhelming amount of trust they have for France's labour union, and its decisions. "If they [the union] call on strikes, it's 100% certain the dock workers will always follow them. That's how it is," said Bruce Barnard European correspondent for The Journal of Commerce in 2010, referring to the ongoing riots at the time.

Le Havre, Marseille-Fos, Lorient, and Bordeaux ports share many of the same marine fuel and marine lubricant suppliers amongst themselves.

Shipments, docks, suppliers, and their commonality:

Lorient, Marseille-Fos, Bordeaux, and Le Havre Bunker Suppliers (in common)
Total Marine Fuels (Paris)
ExxonMobil Marine Fuels (Antwerp)

Lorient, Marseille-Fos, and Le Havre Marine Lubricant Suppliers (in common)
ExxonMobil Marine Ltd. (Leatherhead)
Shell Marine Products Ltd. (Rognac)
Total Lubmarine (Paris)

Bordeaux and Marseille-Fos Lubricant Suppliers (in common)
ExxonMobil Marine Ltd. (Leatherhead)
Shell Marine Products Ltd. (Rognac)

Marseille-Fos other Bunker Suppliers
BP France S.A. (Cergy Pontoise)
Compagnie de Distribution des Hydrocarbures (CDH) (Berre l'Etang)
PetroIneos Trading Ltd (Lavera)

Marseille-Fos other Marine Lubricant Suppliers
Shell Marine Products Ltd. (Rognac)

Le Havre other Bunker Suppliers
Aegean North West Europe (St. Job In't Goor)
BP France S.A. (Cergy Pontoise)

Image credit: Essence