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 success of Tanger Med, currently the Mediterranean’s largest container terminal.
Positioned about 250 kilometers east of Tangier, Nador West Med aims to further strengthen Morocco’s role in African maritime logistics and trade.
CMA CGM’s investment in Nador West Med marks its third port operation in Morocco, adding to its existing ventures at Eurogate Tanger and Somaport in Casablanca.
This expansion reflects a broader industry shift as shipping companies diversify their routes to avoid over-reliance on traditional markets like China, seeking stability amid global supply chain shifts and geopolitical uncertainties.
Emerging markets like Morocco are increasingly attractive to shipping lines adjusting their operations to accommodate global changes.
CMA CGM’s strategic investments in Morocco align with the country’s ambitions to become a top container hub in Africa, enhancing regional and international connectivity.
Development in Morocco’s port network has also been praised by cross-border trade specialist Mike Fitzmaurice, CEO of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations.
Fitzmaurice recently visited Morocco as a guest of the African Union and noted that Morocco’s advanced port infrastructure makes regional corridors, rather than the Maghreb Corridor, the primary routes for coastal freight movement.
Morocco’s internal Moroccan Corridor, which links major cities like Marrakech, Fes, and Oujda to coastal hubs such as Agadir, Rabat, Casablanca, and Nador, is also recognized as one of the most efficient port-hinterland networks in Africa.
This corridor strengthens Morocco’s position as a strategic connector in global trade, while Nador West Med’s development is expected to further integrate the country into international shipping routes, bolstering its logistical influence across the region.
