Since its launch, the port of Tangier Med has strengthened trade with the rest of the world. The site has, over the years, improved its indicators to become one of the most efficient in the world. It wants to cast an even wider net in the future by strengthening its cooperation with other ports, particularly Spanish ports, as a matter of neighborhood. As part of its participation in the 16th edition of the International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM), which is held in Meknes, the Tanger Med Group hosted a presentation around the theme “A logistics value offer for Morocco flows -Spain ».
“SIAM, which is among the largest events in Africa dedicated to agriculture and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, is an opportunity for Tanger Med to present its port and logistics offering, and the solutions put at the service of importers and Moroccan exporters. The port has a strategic location. It is located on the Strait of Gibraltar, at the crossroads of major East-West and North-South maritime routes. It is a crossing point for 20% of world trade. It is also a junction point between two continents separated by a distance of only 14 km,” underlines Idriss Aarabi, director of import-export operations at Tanger Med.
He reviewed the port’s achievements in 2023, which make the site a maritime transport giant. Thus, the container activity recorded the passage of 8,617,410 TEUs, representing growth of 13.4%. For new vehicles, we note the transit of 578,446 units, a jump of 21%, while liquid bulk stood at 9.83 million tonnes (+6%) and solid bulk at 581,042 tonnes (+ 44%). Passenger activity has returned to pre-Covid levels, with 2.7 million people, up 30%. “In addition to the transit of people and the traffic of goods, the port of Tanger Med has enabled the emergence of cutting-edge industrial platforms such as Tanger Free Zone (TFZ), Tanger Automotive City, Renault Tanger Med, Logistics Free Zone, Tetouan Shore, Tetouan Park. Apart from its ripple effects on the national economy, the port has also had a favorable impact on the entire northern region,” explains Aarabi.
The interest in Spain can be explained by different factors. Being Morocco’s leading commercial partner, this country accounts for 49% of heavy goods vehicle traffic, while France has a 24% share. By sector of activity, fruits and vegetables represent 39% of the products passing through the port. They are followed by automobiles with 28%, textiles 8%, while other activities share the 20%. To meet user expectations, TMSA has launched an ambitious development program.
“The port export platform has significantly improved its services. It has become operational 24/7 and has a processing capacity of 2,000 freight units/day. Transit time has been reduced to just 3 hours and it has 3 new generation scanners capable of processing 84 units/h. It has 8 temperature-controlled docks and 10 dry docks. This equipment required an investment of 400 million DH,” specifies Aarabi.
Spanish officials have in turn shown their interest in a competitive and efficient Port of Tangier Med. “Our relations are marked by the logic of complementarity and not competition. Tanger Med should facilitate and strengthen trade between Spain and Morocco, and Europe with Africa or the rest of the world. We want to strengthen our cooperation to improve our services in the interest of both countries,” said Luis Paris, sales and marketing manager at the port of Barcelona.
