MSC Suspends All Cargo Services to Mali as Al-Qaeda-Linked Blockade Deepens Fuel and Security Crisis The world’s largest shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has announced the suspension of all cargo bookings and overland transport to Mali, citing escalating insecurity and a worsening fuel crisis triggered by militant blockades. The Swiss-based logistics giant said that growing security risks along key transport routes and a severe fuel shortage have made it
Category: North Africa
Cathay Cargo Transports 250 Ancient Egyptian Artefacts to Hong Kong for Landmark Exhibition
Cathay Cargo Flies 30 Tonnes of Ancient Egyptian Treasures from Shanghai to Hong Kong for Major Palace Museum Exhibition Cathay Cargo has successfully transported 250 ancient Egyptian artefacts, weighing over 30 tonnes, from Shanghai to Hong Kong ahead of the “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums” exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM). The nine-month exhibition, opening on 20 November 2025, is jointly organized by the Hong Kong
CMA CGM Expands Moroccan Presence with New Terminal at Nador West Med Port
French shipping giant CMA CGM has solidified its position in Morocco by partnering with local port operator Marsa Maroc to manage half of the new east terminal at the Nador West Med Port. Located in northeastern Morocco, this facility will have a capacity of 1.2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) once fully operational. Industry experts, including Alphaliner, see Morocco’s strategy with Nador West Med as an effort to replicate the
Algeria and Tunisia Reopen Railway Link After Three Decades
After a 30-year hiatus, the railway connection between Algeria and Tunisia is officially back in operation. The service, initially halted in 1995 due to security concerns and again suspended in 2003 due to technical issues, marks a significant step in strengthening economic and social ties between the two North African nations. The National Company for Rail Transport in Algeria announced the resumption of services, with the inaugural commercial journey departing
Morocco Aims to Become an Aviation Manufacturing Hub
Moroccan authorities are strategically positioning the country to emerge as a pivotal aviation hub, drawing the attention of investors keen on diversifying their supply chains across various nations. While Africa’s aviation sector has shown promise, it has yet to fully unleash its potential compared to other continents. One crucial strategy to unlock this potential is for Africa to establish itself as a significant player in aviation manufacturing. According to reports
Morocco to Build LNG Terminal
Morocco will build a new LNG terminal at the port of Nador, currently under construction, as part of the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline project. The announcement was made via a gas infrastructure roadmap agreement signed by several Moroccan Ministries, including Finance and Energy, in March. The roadmap will be executed over the course of several years, with a primary focus on developing LNG import facilities, encompassing storage and transport infrastructure. Immediate objectives
Port of New Orleans gets $266 million grant for Louisiana terminal
In addition to the $226 million INFRA Grant, the US Department of Transport recently awarded Port NOLA $73.77 million through its MEGA Grant programme, totalling $300 million in federal grant dollars to support the first construction phase of the $1.8 billion container terminal. The recent federal awards are in addition to significant private industry partner commitments as well as the State of Louisiana, and Port NOLA. LIT has also garnered
Port of LA handles 13% less containers in 2023
Despite seeing a 13% drop in throughput overall for 2023 the US West Coast gateway port saw volume growth pick-up again in the final five months of the year. In December the Port of LA handled 747,355 teu, up 2.5% year-on-year, and the fifth consecutive month of year-on-year growth. The Port of LA remained the largest container in the US for the 24th year running. “In 2024, our sights are set
Port of LA Faces Decline in Monthly Volumes Despite June Improvement
The Port of Los Angeles, which experienced a slight recovery in June with volumes down by only 5% year-on-year compared to a significant 43% drop in February, has encountered a reversal in the latter half of the year. In July 2023, the Port of LA reported handling 684,290 TEU, marking a considerable decrease of 26.85% compared to the same month in 2022. This decline follows a drop from June 2023