Morocco plans USD 8 bn ports expansion to lift capacity to 450 mn tons by 2030

Morocco is aiming for multiple maritime gateways, with plans to invest around USD 8 bn under its 2030 ports strategy to develop new ports, expand existing infrastructure, and build shipyards for construction and repair, Sanaa El Omrani, director of ports and maritime public domain at the Equipment and Water Ministry, told the Arabic press on the sidelines of a conference in Rabat last week. The plan targets a 15% increase in national port capacity to around 450 mn tons by 2030.

Tanger Med anchors the scale of Morocco’s port system: The Tanger Med port handled 11.1 mn TEUs in 2025, up 8.4% y-o-y, after surpassing the 10 mn TEU threshold in 2024, according to a press release (pdf). Total cargo traffic at the port reached 161 mn tons, while TIR truck flows rose 3.6% to 535.2k units, reflecting strong industrial and agri-food export momentum.

Why does this matter? It’s a tested node in global trade flows. Russian metals producer Nornickel has been diverting cargoes around Africa, increasingly routing shipments through Tanger Med before onward delivery to Europe. The Moroccan hub is also positioned to absorb higher vessel traffic as Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM reroute services away from the Suez Canal amid broader Middle East disruptions.

What to expect from the country’s port expansion play: Morocco’s port network is widening beyond its northern hub into a dual-axis system. Dakhla port, due in 2028, will feature a 23-meter depth and support heavy industry, green hydrogen exports, and trade links toward West Africa and the Sahel. On the Mediterranean coast, Nador West Med is set for 2H this year, with up to 5k hectares of industrial space and Morocco’s first LNG floating storage and regasification unit, backed in part by EUR 489.8 mn in African Development Bank funding.