French importers face a specific version of the import-or-manufacture question in 2026. EU duty rates are the same for everyone, but French compliance culture, retailer documentation demands and the cost of a failed CE file make the decision less about landed cost and more about who owns the technical dossier.
The 2026 decision in one paragraph
If you are buying under about 4,000 units a year of a catalogue product, keep importing. If your volume is above that, or your product carries a French-market spec that a catalogue supplier cannot meet, a dedicated Thai production programme almost always returns the tooling investment within two to four order cycles.
Duty and origin for French buyers
Thailand no longer benefits from EU GSP preference, so most industrial goods enter France at the standard MFN rate — typically 0% to 6.5% for machinery and metal parts, and up to 12% for textiles and consumer goods. That rate is identical whether you import stock or manufacture to your own drawings, so duty is rarely the deciding variable. What does change is your customs valuation: when you own tooling and supply free-issue components, those values must be added to the declared value under EU valuation rules.
Where manufacturing wins
- Specification control. A dedicated programme lets you fix materials, finishes and marking so the CE and REACH file stays stable between batches.
- Documentation ownership. You hold the technical dossier rather than depending on a catalogue supplier's version, which matters when a French distributor or DGCCRF asks for it.
- Cost curve. Unit cost typically falls 12–25% once you move from catalogue purchase to dedicated production at scale.
- Traceability. Lot-level traceability is straightforward to specify in a production programme, and often impossible to buy off a trading catalogue.
Where importing still wins
Low volume, seasonal or test-market products should stay on import. So should any product whose design is still moving: paying for steel tooling before the design is frozen is the most common way French buyers lose money in Thailand.
Freight and lead time from Thailand to France
Laem Chabang to Le Havre or Fos-sur-Mer runs 28–36 days port to port in 2026, plus 5–10 days for inland delivery and clearance. Rail and barge from Rotterdam or Antwerp is often cheaper than a direct Le Havre call for northern French destinations — compare both before you fix Incoterms.
Compliance checklist for French buyers
- CE marking and declaration of conformity in French for the product's applicable directives.
- REACH SVHC declaration and, where relevant, RoHS for electricals.
- Triman and packaging EPR registration for consumer goods placed on the French market.
- French-language instructions and safety warnings.
- EORI number, correct HS classification and a customs valuation that includes tooling and royalties.
A realistic cost comparison
For a mid-complexity metal assembly, a French buyer typically sees an FOB price of about EUR 24 per unit on catalogue purchase against EUR 18–20 on a dedicated programme with EUR 22,000 of tooling. Break-even lands near 4,400 units. Below that, import; above it, manufacture.
How TUSKO runs it
We shortlist and audit Thai factories, negotiate on your behalf, own the quality plan, and ship on one purchase order and one invoice. You never have to contract with the factory or manage a supplier relationship in a time zone six hours ahead.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to import finished goods or manufacture in Thailand?
Below roughly 3,000–5,000 units a year, importing stock or lightly customised product usually wins because you avoid tooling, first-article inspection and qualification cost. Above that, a dedicated Thai production programme normally beats it on unit cost, and the gap widens as volume grows.
How long does it take to move from importing to a dedicated production programme?
Plan 12–20 weeks: 1–2 weeks for factory shortlist, 3–4 weeks for audits and quotes, 4–8 weeks for tooling and samples, and 4–6 weeks for first article inspection and pilot run before the first commercial container.
Do we need our own entity in Thailand?
No. Most buyers contract with TUSKO and never register locally. You place one purchase order, receive one invoice, and we carry the supplier relationship, quality accountability and export documentation.
What does TUSKO charge for this?
There is no retainer and no separate sourcing fee. Our margin sits inside the quoted price of each order and is disclosed per case, and the percentage falls as your annual volume rises.
What happens if a shipment fails inspection?
You contract with TUSKO, so we are the accountable party. We manage rework, replacement or credit with the factory directly and keep your delivery plan on track without you negotiating across time zones.