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France closes its border to freight from the United Kingdom

France closes its border to freight from the United Kingdom. The disruption ran from 2020-12-20 (20 December 2020) to 2020-12-23 (23 December 2020), 4 days, affecting Dover, Calais. Dover averaged 0.8 calls per day during the event window against an expected 0.1 (+0.6). Calais averaged 0.8 calls per day during the event window against an expected 0.5 (+0.3).

World Freight Monitor permanent record. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2020/border-closure-dover-calais-2020/. Record last updated 2026-09-16.

Key facts

Started
2020-12-20 (20 December 2020)
Ended
2020-12-23 (23 December 2020)
Status
ended
Severity
2 Moderate
Scope
regional
Chokepoints
None
Lanes
None
Confidence
high: The prohibition and its end date are set out in the French decree, and the reopening protocol and testing requirement in a Department for Transport statement, with consistent reporting by three established outlets.
First reported
2020-12-20 (20 December 2020)
  • Severity basis: Port wide stoppage of 24 hours to seven days, with the Port of Dover closed to accompanied traffic leaving the United Kingdom from the evening of 2020-12-20 until services resumed on 2020-12-23.

What happened

On 2020-12-20 (20 December 2020) France barred arrivals from the United Kingdom over a coronavirus variant reported there, and the Port of Dover closed to accompanied traffic leaving the country. A French decree published the following day prohibited travel from the United Kingdom until midnight on 2020-12-23. Lorries queued in Kent, with 632 on the M20 and 2,188 at Manston airfield on 2020-12-22 according to figures reported that day. The United Kingdom and France agreed a protocol on 2020-12-22 under which sea, rail and air services resumed the next morning, with drivers required to show a negative test taken in the previous 72 hours. Queues at Dover took several more days to clear.

Measured effect

Port calls, Dover

Baseline (expected)
0.1 calls per day
Observed
0.8 calls per day
Change
+0.6 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
+0.6
Event window
2020-12-20 to 2020-12-23 (4 days)
Baseline window
2020-10-18 to 2020-12-12 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:b80e0b6ddca7
Port calls, DoverPort calls, Dover, 2020-10-11 (11 October 2020) to 2021-02-03 (3 February 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-11 to 3 calls per day on 2020-11-17, with a mean of 0.3 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-02-03, was 0 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-20 to 2020-12-23.01232020-10-112020-12-082021-02-03
Port calls, Dover, 2020-10-11 (11 October 2020) to 2021-02-03 (3 February 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-11 to 3 calls per day on 2020-11-17, with a mean of 0.3 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-02-03, was 0 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-20 to 2020-12-23.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Port calls, Dover (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2020-10-110
2020-10-120
2020-10-131
2020-10-140
2020-10-150
2020-10-160
2020-10-170
2020-10-180
2020-10-190
2020-10-201
2020-10-210
2020-10-220
2020-10-230
2020-10-241
2020-10-250
2020-10-260
2020-10-270
2020-10-280
2020-10-290
2020-10-300
2020-10-310
2020-11-010
2020-11-021
2020-11-030
2020-11-040
2020-11-050
2020-11-060
2020-11-070
2020-11-080
2020-11-090
2020-11-102
2020-11-110
2020-11-120
2020-11-130
2020-11-140
2020-11-150
2020-11-161
2020-11-173
2020-11-181
2020-11-190
2020-11-200
2020-11-210
2020-11-220
2020-11-231
2020-11-240
2020-11-251
2020-11-260
2020-11-270
2020-11-280
2020-11-290
2020-11-300
2020-12-010
2020-12-021
2020-12-030
2020-12-041
2020-12-050
2020-12-060
2020-12-070
2020-12-080
2020-12-091
2020-12-100
2020-12-110
2020-12-120
2020-12-130
2020-12-142
2020-12-150
2020-12-160
2020-12-171
2020-12-180
2020-12-190
2020-12-201
2020-12-210
2020-12-222
2020-12-230
2020-12-241
2020-12-250
2020-12-260
2020-12-270
2020-12-281
2020-12-290
2020-12-301
2020-12-310
2021-01-010
2021-01-021
2021-01-031
2021-01-040
2021-01-050
2021-01-061
2021-01-070
2021-01-080
2021-01-090
2021-01-100
2021-01-110
2021-01-120
2021-01-130
2021-01-140
2021-01-150
2021-01-160
2021-01-170
2021-01-180
2021-01-191
2021-01-200
2021-01-210
2021-01-220
2021-01-230
2021-01-241
2021-01-250
2021-01-261
2021-01-270
2021-01-280
2021-01-290
2021-01-300
2021-01-310
2021-02-010
2021-02-020
2021-02-030

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Port calls, Calais

Baseline (expected)
0.5 calls per day
Observed
0.8 calls per day
Change
+0.3 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
+0.3
Event window
2020-12-20 to 2020-12-23 (4 days)
Baseline window
2020-10-18 to 2020-12-12 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:491145c8e19b
Port calls, CalaisPort calls, Calais, 2020-10-11 (11 October 2020) to 2021-02-03 (3 February 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-11 to 3 calls per day on 2020-11-01, with a mean of 0.6 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-02-03, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-20 to 2020-12-23.01232020-10-112020-12-082021-02-03
Port calls, Calais, 2020-10-11 (11 October 2020) to 2021-02-03 (3 February 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-11 to 3 calls per day on 2020-11-01, with a mean of 0.6 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-02-03, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-20 to 2020-12-23.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Port calls, Calais (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2020-10-110
2020-10-120
2020-10-130
2020-10-142
2020-10-152
2020-10-160
2020-10-170
2020-10-181
2020-10-190
2020-10-201
2020-10-211
2020-10-221
2020-10-231
2020-10-240
2020-10-252
2020-10-261
2020-10-270
2020-10-282
2020-10-290
2020-10-301
2020-10-310
2020-11-013
2020-11-020
2020-11-031
2020-11-040
2020-11-051
2020-11-060
2020-11-071
2020-11-081
2020-11-090
2020-11-101
2020-11-110
2020-11-120
2020-11-132
2020-11-141
2020-11-150
2020-11-160
2020-11-170
2020-11-182
2020-11-191
2020-11-200
2020-11-210
2020-11-221
2020-11-230
2020-11-240
2020-11-251
2020-11-261
2020-11-270
2020-11-281
2020-11-290
2020-11-302
2020-12-010
2020-12-020
2020-12-032
2020-12-042
2020-12-051
2020-12-060
2020-12-070
2020-12-080
2020-12-091
2020-12-100
2020-12-111
2020-12-121
2020-12-130
2020-12-140
2020-12-150
2020-12-161
2020-12-171
2020-12-181
2020-12-191
2020-12-200
2020-12-210
2020-12-221
2020-12-232
2020-12-240
2020-12-250
2020-12-261
2020-12-270
2020-12-280
2020-12-291
2020-12-300
2020-12-311
2021-01-010
2021-01-020
2021-01-030
2021-01-040
2021-01-051
2021-01-060
2021-01-071
2021-01-080
2021-01-090
2021-01-101
2021-01-110
2021-01-120
2021-01-130
2021-01-141
2021-01-151
2021-01-161
2021-01-170
2021-01-180
2021-01-191
2021-01-201
2021-01-210
2021-01-221
2021-01-230
2021-01-240
2021-01-250
2021-01-262
2021-01-270
2021-01-280
2021-01-290
2021-01-302
2021-01-311
2021-02-011
2021-02-020
2021-02-031

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Replay

Replay: Port calls, DoverPort calls, Dover, 2020-10-21 (21 October 2020) to 2021-01-19 (19 January 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-21 to 3 calls per day on 2020-11-17. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-20 to 2020-12-23.01232020-10-212021-01-19
Port calls, Dover, 2020-10-21 (21 October 2020) to 2021-01-19 (19 January 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-21 to 3 calls per day on 2020-11-17. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-20 to 2020-12-23.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Port calls, Dover (calls per day), daily values shown in the replay.
Datecalls per day
2020-10-210
2020-10-220
2020-10-230
2020-10-241
2020-10-250
2020-10-260
2020-10-270
2020-10-280
2020-10-290
2020-10-300
2020-10-310
2020-11-010
2020-11-021
2020-11-030
2020-11-040
2020-11-050
2020-11-060
2020-11-070
2020-11-080
2020-11-090
2020-11-102
2020-11-110
2020-11-120
2020-11-130
2020-11-140
2020-11-150
2020-11-161
2020-11-173
2020-11-181
2020-11-190
2020-11-200
2020-11-210
2020-11-220
2020-11-231
2020-11-240
2020-11-251
2020-11-260
2020-11-270
2020-11-280
2020-11-290
2020-11-300
2020-12-010
2020-12-021
2020-12-030
2020-12-041
2020-12-050
2020-12-060
2020-12-070
2020-12-080
2020-12-091
2020-12-100
2020-12-110
2020-12-120
2020-12-130
2020-12-142
2020-12-150
2020-12-160
2020-12-171
2020-12-180
2020-12-190
2020-12-201
2020-12-210
2020-12-222
2020-12-230
2020-12-241
2020-12-250
2020-12-260
2020-12-270
2020-12-281
2020-12-290
2020-12-301
2020-12-310
2021-01-010
2021-01-021
2021-01-031
2021-01-040
2021-01-050
2021-01-061
2021-01-070
2021-01-080
2021-01-090
2021-01-100
2021-01-110
2021-01-120
2021-01-130
2021-01-140
2021-01-150
2021-01-160
2021-01-170
2021-01-180
2021-01-191

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Timeline

  1. France stops accepting arrivals from the United Kingdom over a reported coronavirus variant. The Port of Dover closes to accompanied traffic leaving the country and Channel Tunnel services are suspended. [s3] [s4]
  2. A French decree prohibiting travel from the United Kingdom to France until midnight on 23 December is published in the Journal officiel. [s1]
  3. The two governments agree a protocol to reopen the border for accompanied freight and some passenger services. Lorry drivers must take a lateral flow test, and travellers must show a negative test taken within 72 hours. [s2] [s3]
  4. Sea, rail and air services resume in the morning and testing of drivers begins in Kent. Reported figures that week put 632 lorries on the M20 and 2,188 at Manston airfield. [s2] [s3] [s5]
  5. Queues at Dover clear slowly as testing continues, with military personnel deployed to carry out tests. [s4]

Cause

The French government restricted movements from the United Kingdom because of the health situation there after a new coronavirus variant was reported, setting the prohibition out in a decree that ran until midnight on 2020-12-23. The United Kingdom Department for Transport then agreed a protocol with France to reopen the border with testing. Attributed by: Government of France. [s1] [s2]

Resolution

2020-12-23 (23 December 2020): The border reopened to accompanied freight on 2020-12-23 under a protocol requiring a negative test, and ferry and tunnel services resumed that morning. Clearing the lorries held in Kent took several more days. [s2] [s3] [s4]

Corrections

No corrections to this record as of 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026).

Sources

  1. [s1] Légifrance, Décret n° 2020-1627 du 20 décembre 2020 modifiant le décret n° 2020-1310 du 29 octobre 2020 prescrivant les mesures générales nécessaires pour faire face à l'épidémie de covid-19 dans le cadre de l'état d'urgence sanitaire, published 2020-12-21 (21 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  2. [s2] Department for Transport, Protocol agreed to reopen French border to UK arrivals, published 2020-12-22 (22 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  3. [s3] Al Jazeera, France to reopen UK borders closed over new coronavirus strain, published 2020-12-22 (22 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
  4. [s4] Euronews, Dover slowly clearing lorry queues after France relaxes UK blockade, published 2020-12-24 (24 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
  5. [s5] CNN, UK France border: Thousands of truck drivers scramble for tests at Dover after blockade is eased, published 2020-12-23 (23 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)

Cite this record

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Plain text

World Freight Monitor. "France closes its border to freight from the United Kingdom." Last updated 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026). https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2020/border-closure-dover-calais-2020/

APA

World Freight Monitor. (2026). France closes its border to freight from the United Kingdom. World Freight Monitor. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2020/border-closure-dover-calais-2020/

BibTeX

@misc{wfm_border_closure_dover_calais_2020,
  author = {{World Freight Monitor}},
  title = {France closes its border to freight from the United Kingdom},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last updated 2026-09-16},
  url = {https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2020/border-closure-dover-calais-2020/}
}