Logistics & Export to Europe
We manage the entire logistics chain from Mauritanian ports to your warehouse in France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Greece or the Netherlands. An organisation designed for B2B buyers: rigorous planning, complete documentation and transparent communication at every step.
Our export logistics organisation
Temperature-controlled transport
Frozen octopus is shipped in refrigerated containers (reefers) maintained at -18°C throughout the sea voyage. Each container is equipped with a temperature recorder and sealed before departure.
Rotations from Mauritanian ports (Nouadhibou, Nouakchott) to major European ports (Le Havre, Algeciras, Hamburg, Marseille) are planned in advance.
Available export formats
We ship in IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) and Block formats, packed in 10 kg cartons (or as per your specifications). Palletisation is adapted to your warehouse or customs post requirements.
Minimum order quantities and container volumes available on request depending on the chosen format and size.
Export documentation
We prepare the complete export file: commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading, EU health certificate, certificate of origin and EUR.1.
Documents are transmitted in advance to facilitate customs clearance and veterinary inspection at the EU point of entry.
Coordination & follow-up
A dedicated contact manages your order from container booking through to delivery confirmation. You are kept informed at every key stage: loading, vessel departure, ETA, documents available.
We work with CFR, CIF and FOB incoterms depending on your purchasing team's preferences.
Transit times by destination port
The table below shows typical sea transit times from Mauritanian ports (Nouadhibou / Nouakchott) to main European entry ports. These are estimates based on standard vessel rotations — actual schedules may vary depending on booking, production timing and carrier availability.
| Destination port | Country | Transit (days) | Redistribution area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeciras | Spain | 10–12 days | Madrid (MERCAMADRID), Barcelona, Vigo, Galicia |
| Le Havre | France | 12–15 days | Rungis (Paris), northern and north-western France |
| Marseille / Fos | France | 12–15 days | Lyon, Marseille, south-eastern France, Mediterranean |
| Antwerp | Belgium | 14–18 days | Belgium, Netherlands, northern France |
| Rotterdam | Netherlands | 14–18 days | Netherlands, Belgium, western Germany |
| Hamburg / Bremen | Germany | 15–20 days | Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, METRO/EDEKA platforms |
| Genoa / Trieste | Italy | 14–18 days | Milan, Rome, Naples, Adriatic markets, GDO platforms |
ETAs are communicated at shipment confirmation. Port selection depends on final destination and your logistics setup.
How an order is processed: 6 steps from enquiry to delivery
- Product brief: you send us your product request (species, size, format, volume, incoterm, destination port, required shelf life).
- Structured quote: we return a CFR/CIF/FOB offer within 1 business day with unit price, format, sizes, available production window and estimated ETA.
- Order confirmation: once the proforma invoice is accepted, we confirm the booking and production scheduling.
- Production and export file: the octopus is processed, packaged and frozen. The export file (health certificate, certificate of origin, EUR.1, packing list, commercial invoice) is prepared in parallel.
- Shipment and pre-arrival documents: the container is loaded, sealed and shipped. Export documents are transmitted electronically before vessel arrival to facilitate anticipated customs and veterinary clearance.
- Delivery and traceability: you receive the ETA update and the complete lot traceability file. Temperature datalogger records are available on request for your quality team.
Country-specific sourcing pages
If you are targeting a specific market, these pages summarise the most relevant buying and logistics signals in one place.
Netherlands
Routing and sourcing page for Dutch importers and distribution workflows.
Documents and process pages
These pages extend the logistics angle with documentary framing, cold-chain control and a more importer-facing supplier review lens.
Export documents
Health certificate, EUR.1, packing list, commercial invoice and pre-arrival transmission logic.
Cold-chain export
Temperature checkpoints, cold-chain continuity and practical control points from loading to importer reception.
Traceability for importers
A more direct supplier-qualification and execution view for buyers, compliance teams and import operations.
Buyer profile pages
These pages translate export logistics into downstream buyer contexts: foodservice, seafood distribution or processing workflows.
Foodservice importers
Foodservice-oriented sourcing, horeca flows, grade choice and reception logic for restaurant channels.
Seafood distributors
Recurring supply, replenishment logic and readable movement for wholesalers and seafood distributors.
Processors
Cold-chain continuity, product state and execution control for cutting, repacking and industrial use.
Frequently asked questions about logistics
What is the minimum order quantity?
We work from one 20-foot container (approximately 18 to 20 tonnes depending on the format). For smaller volumes, contact us to explore LCL (Less than Container Load) groupage options.
Do you work FOB, CFR or CIF?
We offer FOB incoterms (Nouadhibou or Nouakchott), CFR and CIF depending on the European destination. The incoterm is agreed contractually at the time of order.
Are documents sent before the vessel arrives?
Yes. We systematically transmit export documents electronically before arrival at the destination port to allow anticipated customs clearance and veterinary inspection at the EU entry point.
Can I order mixed grades in the same container?
Yes. Multi-grade and multi-format orders (e.g. T3–T5 IQF whole + T2–T4 Block tentacles) are possible within the same 20-foot container. Specify your product requirements in your brief and we will confirm what is feasible in a single shipment.
Can you provide container temperature records?
Yes. Each reefer container is equipped with a temperature datalogger. The full temperature curve (from loading to arrival) is available on request at delivery for your quality and logistics teams.