Fuel deliveries have been blocked from all French refineries, as protesters again took to the streets over government plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64.
Tuesday marked the sixth day of strikes and protests since mid-January and trade unions said it would be the biggest yet.
Most train and metro services were cancelled and many schools closed.
Police estimated between 1.1 million and 1.4 million would be taking part in the 260 protests highlighted by unions.