The French port of Le Havre has reopened after protests by local fishermen disrupted operations on Monday.
Some fishing boats had attempted to block access to the port, but a spokesman for the harbour master told Platts news service on Tuesday that the blockade was over.
A source at the Compagnie Industrielle Maritime, based in Le Havre ,told Platts. "There has been no impact on the refineries. I think the main impact was at the container terminal."
Le Havre is one of Europe's leading ports, accounting for almost 75 million mt of cargo each year. Some 40% of France's crude oil imports pass through the port.
The fishermen have been protesting over rising fuel costs. They fuel purchases now make up 40% of their operating costs.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has offered tax breaks and other aid in a bid to end f the protests.
As well as disrupting operations in Le Havre, fishermen blocked road access to the port of Brest, on Monday, setting fire to crates and preventing trucks from refueling.
There were also protests in Dieppe where cross-Channel traffic was disrupted for several hours.
Price for marine gas oil (MGO) in Le Havre have climbed to more than $860 per metric tonne (mt), up from $610 per mt at the beginning of June.
Some fishing boats had attempted to block access to the port, but a spokesman for the harbour master told Platts news service on Tuesday that the blockade was over.
A source at the Compagnie Industrielle Maritime, based in Le Havre ,told Platts. "There has been no impact on the refineries. I think the main impact was at the container terminal."
Le Havre is one of Europe's leading ports, accounting for almost 75 million mt of cargo each year. Some 40% of France's crude oil imports pass through the port.
The fishermen have been protesting over rising fuel costs. They fuel purchases now make up 40% of their operating costs.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has offered tax breaks and other aid in a bid to end f the protests.
As well as disrupting operations in Le Havre, fishermen blocked road access to the port of Brest, on Monday, setting fire to crates and preventing trucks from refueling.
There were also protests in Dieppe where cross-Channel traffic was disrupted for several hours.
Price for marine gas oil (MGO) in Le Havre have climbed to more than $860 per metric tonne (mt), up from $610 per mt at the beginning of June.