French industry has a strong machining base in aerospace (Toulouse), automotive (Paris, the North), energy (Rhône-Alpes) and machine building; but due to high labour charges and tightening capacity, French buyers are extending their search for subcontractors abroad. This article is the France version of our Germany comparison and adds numbers to our France advantages article. The figures are typical values reflecting 2025–2026 market conditions; they vary by supplier and part.
Line-by-Line Comparison
| Item | France | Turkey | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNC turning hourly rate (3-axis) | €60–80 | €28–40 | ≈ 50% lower |
| CNC milling hourly rate (3-axis) | €65–90 | €30–45 | ≈ 50% lower |
| 5-axis milling hourly rate | €90–125 | €45–65 | ≈ 48% lower |
| Swiss-type turning hourly rate (décolletage) | €55–75 | €25–38 | ≈ 50% lower |
| Programming / set-up (hour) | €70–90 | €30–45 | ≈ 52% lower |
| Employer social charges (share of gross wage) | 40–45% | 20–25% | High in France |
| Raw material (steel, aluminium, stainless) | Market | Market (±5%) | Similar |
| Industrial electricity (kWh) | €0.12–0.18 | €0.10–0.14 | Small difference |
| Coating / heat treatment | Market | 20–35% lower | Medium |
| Freight to France (share of part value) | 0.5–1% (domestic) | 2–4% (road, 4–6 days) | Higher for Turkey |
| Customs duty | — | 0% (A.TR) | None |
| Customs clearance (per shipment) | — | €40–80 | Fixed, small |
| Import TVA (20%) | Domestic TVA | Offset in the CA3 return via autoliquidation; no cash effect | Neutral |
France's energy advantage (largely nuclear generation) pulls the machine-hour cost slightly below Germany's; but labour and social charges maintain the gap. The typical difference to Turkey is 48–52%.
Example 1: Milled Aluminium Aerospace Bracket (Non-Structural)
EN AW-7075 T6, 180×90×30 mm, 3-axis milling in 3 set-ups, pocket machining, 10 holes, chromate conversion coating (Surtec 650 type); ISO 2768-f, several ±0.02 dimensions; FAI report; quantity 150.
| France | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | €9.80 | €10.20 |
| Machine + labour (38 min) | €50.00 | €23.50 |
| Set-up/programming (per piece) | €4.80 | €2.30 |
| Chromate coating | €3.50 | €2.60 |
| Quality/FAI/report | €3.20 | €2.40 |
| Overhead + margin | €13.50 | €7.20 |
| Ex-works price | €84.80 | €48.20 |
| Freight + customs clearance | €0.60 | €1.70 |
| Delivered cost | €85.40 | €49.90 |
Saving: ≈ 42%. A milled part with long machining time and medium quantity; the difference is large because the labour share is high. Note: flight-critical structural parts require an EN 9100-certified supplier; this example represents non-structural parts (cabin, test equipment, ground support).
Example 2: Turned Brass Fitting
CW614N (CuZn39Pb3), Ø16×28 mm, Swiss-type turning, G1/4 thread, bore, hexagon; nickel plating; quantity 15,000.
| France | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | €0.48 | €0.49 |
| Swiss-type turning (55 s) | €1.00 | €0.48 |
| Nickel plating (bulk) | €0.14 | €0.10 |
| Set-up/programming | €0.03 | €0.02 |
| Quality (SPC) | €0.04 | €0.03 |
| Overhead + margin | €0.34 | €0.18 |
| Ex-works price | €2.03 | €1.30 |
| Freight + customs clearance | €0.01 | €0.03 |
| Delivered cost | €2.04 | €1.33 |
Saving: ≈ 35%. In brass the raw material share is high; the saving comes from the labour item. France's Arve Valley décolletage cluster is competitive for these parts; Turkey still maintains the gap. Details are in our brass series parts article.
Total Cost of Ownership: The Hidden Items
- Inventory and capital: 4–6 days by road (Lyon/Marseille 4–5, Paris 5–6 days), 1–2 weeks of additional safety stock; 0.3–0.5% of part value.
- Customs management: €40–80 per shipment; under DAP the supplier's forwarder handles it. With autoliquidation there is no TVA cash outflow.
- Language and communication: English is standard in export-oriented Turkish shops; summarising French technical notes in English is helpful. A small time cost.
- Capacity and lead time: 8–12 weeks of waiting is common in France; 3–6 weeks in Turkey.
- Quality risk: Equivalent with the right quality system; 1–2 weeks for corrective action in case of a complaint.
Result: for labour-intensive parts, the total cost of ownership saving is typically 30–45%; the method is described in our TCO article.
Where the Saving Remains Low
- Large, simple parts where the raw material share exceeds 60%;
- Very low-quantity (1–5) prototypes, where set-up and freight dominate;
- Parts requiring daily JIT delivery;
- Flight-critical parts where EN 9100 is mandatory (narrow supplier pool, certification cost dominates);
- Very high-volume simple parts produced fully automatically in France.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cheaper are CNC parts from Turkey for France?
Typically 30–45% for labour-intensive parts, including freight and customs clearance; 10–20% for material-heavy simple parts.
How do customs duty and TVA work?
Customs duty is zero under A.TR; since 2022, import TVA is declared under mandatory autoliquidation in the CA3 return and deducted in the same return. Details are in our A.TR guide.
Are prices in euros?
Yes; export-oriented Turkish suppliers quote and invoice in euros, so there is no exchange-rate risk.
Can I get numbers for my own part?
Yes. Send your technical drawing with the information in our RFQ guide; you will receive a comparable quote within 24 hours.
Conclusion
The CNC part cost difference between France and Turkey comes from machine hours and, above all, labour charges; because customs duty is zero under A.TR and TVA is neutral in the return, the saving reaches the buyer. A total saving of 30–45% on labour-intensive parts is a realistic expectation. To see the real numbers for your own parts, send us your technical drawings.
