As an e-tailer based in Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Reunion or Mayotte, you've mastered the art of shipping over long distances, with challenges that sellers in mainland France are unaware of. In this complex ecosystem, insuring your parcels is not an option: it's the cornerstone of your profitability.
Yet the apparent simplicity of offers like Colissimo Recommandé conceals major financial risks. Derisory Limits , complex exclusions, interminable delays: this expert guide reveals the real solutions for securing your overseas shipments in 2025.
Why parcel insurance is more critical overseas
Logistics challenges specific to French overseas departments and territories
Shipping from overseas involves objective logistical challenges that multiply the risks:
Multiple breaking points: A parcel from Martinique → Paris transits via local hubs, sea/air transport, then sorting centers in mainland France, multiplying the number of risky handling operations.
Extreme climatic conditions: Tropical humidity and temperature variations impact certain products and packaging over transit times of 48-72h minimum.
Administrative complexity: Even to mainland France, DOM-TOM flows involve specific controls that lengthen lead times and increase the risk of disputes.
Claisy statistics: 23% more disputes on DOM-TOM flows than on mainland France, mainly due to multiple load breaks.
Faced with these challenges, it would be a strategic mistake to settle for basic compensation alone.
The Basic Solution: Registered Colissimo Insurance
La Poste's standard offer for securing your shipments is the "Recommendation" option, which comes in several levels (R1, R2, R3). It offers flat-rate compensation in the event of loss or damage.
The verdict is clear: with a maximum Limit of €450, this solution is totally unsuitable for any e-tailer selling higher-value products.
The Customs Trap
A crucial point that is often misunderstood: carriers' basic insurance policies do not generally cover claims arising from customs blockage or loss. The reason is simple: a blockage is most often due to a declaratory error on the part of the shipper, or non-payment of duties and taxes by the consignee. No insurance covers these cases. An expert solution like Claisy, however, protects you if the parcel is lost or damaged in transit through the customs clearance center. This is a fundamental difference.
Strategic Comparison: Carrier Offers vs. the Pro Solution
For a professional, the choice does not come down to the price of insurance, but to the total cost of risk.
The Course of a Litigation: 77 Days of Loss
The true cost of inadequate insurance is revealed in the event of a dispute. The average 77-day claim period for a traditional Carrier is an eternity, impacting both your cash flow and your customer's satisfaction.
Cash impact: 77 days of downtime = 2.5 months without cash flow on the damaged product
Your Essential Pre-Shipment Checklist
To help you make the right decision with every shipment, here's the checklist every overseas e-business should use.
DOM-TOM seasonal checklist
December-April (Cyclones) :
- ✅ Enhanced insurance for high-risk periods
- ✅ Customer communication on extended lead times
- ✅ Local safety stock if possible
July-August (Pic Tourisme) :
- ✅ Anticipation of volumes +40
- ✅ Backup transporters
- ✅ Enhanced customer service
Ship l'Esprit Tranquille from French overseas departments and territories
Your geographical position is a strength, not a constraint. Don't let inadequate insurance hinder your growth overseas.
ROI calculation for E-commerce DOM-TOM
Typical scenario: 50 parcels/month, average value €800
- Claisy cost: €300/month
- Savings vs. carriers: €100 to €180/month
- Cash savings: €1,200 (avoid 77 days of waiting)
- Net ROI: ~€1080/month or +€12,000/year
Specificities by Territory DOM-TOM
To send (insured) parcels to French overseas departments and territories, La Poste now offers a Colissimo Eco service for the French overseas departments and territories.
Martinique & Guadeloupe: L'Enjeu Caribéen
To mainland France: 8-10 days average transit time, must pass through Roissy hub
Versl'International : Increased customs complexity, often via European platforms
Risk products: Rum, craft products, electronics (humidity)
Réunion: Crossroads of the Indian Ocean
To Europe: 7-12 days, frequent Mauritius or Dubai hub
TowardsAsia/Africa: Geographically advantageous but regulations vary
Local specialties: spices, textiles, perfumes (strict customs declarations)
If you use Colissimo DROM COM for your shipments to or from Reunion Island, you can find all the information here.
French Guiana: The Continental Challenge
Isolation Logistics: Limited air service, high transport costs
To the Caribbean: Interesting alternative but complex regulations
Sensitive sectors: gold panning, precious woods (reinforced controls)
Mayotte: Special status
Status 101st Department: Specific regulations since 2014
Limited service: fewer carriers, higher rates
Seasonal challenges: December-April cyclones impact logistics
Not forgetting Saint Barthélémy, St Pierre et Miquelon, French Polynesia, Tahiti, Saint Martin, Wallis and Futuna and the French Southern and Antarctic Territories.