Rabat – The port of Tanger Med in Morocco has achieved a remarkable feat, breaking into the top 20 busiest container ports globally, according to a recently published ranking by maritime analysis firm Alphaliner.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for Africa, with Tanger Med becoming the first port on the continent to reach this prestigious ranking.
Originally projected to join the top 20 by 2027, Tanger Med exceeded expectations in 2023, surpassing established ports like New York (21st) and Hamburg (22nd).
Tanger Med now sits behind established European powerhouses Rotterdam (13th) and Antwerp/Bruges (15th), while no Spanish port in the top 20. In 2022, the rankings’ top Spanish ports, Valencia and Piraeus, came in 31st and 32nd place respectively.
Further highlighting its impressive growth, Tanger Med boasted the second-highest annual increase (+13.4%) among the top 20 ports in 2023, trailing only China’s Qingdao (16.9%). This success can be attributed to several factors.
The port boasts four dedicated container terminals, with a combined capacity of 9 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). In 2023, Tanger Med handled a staggering 8.6 million TEUs, signifying a remarkable 95% utilization rate and exceeding projections by four years.
Strong performance at terminals operated by Maersk-APM and Tanger Alliance, coupled with record monthly handling peaks exceeding 800,000 TEUs, fueled this growth.
Furthermore, the port witnessed a 17% increase in vessel traffic compared to 2022, with a notable 16% rise in mega-vessels (exceeding 290 meters) docking at the port. Notably, the port accommodated 1,113 mega-vessels, indicating a growing preference for Tanger Med’s facilities among shipping companies.
Beyond its individual achievements, Tanger Med’s success reverberates across Morocco’s maritime landscape. The country witnessed a commendable 7.4% rise in total port traffic in 2023, with Tanger Med serving as the linchpin of this growth.
As Morocco’s premier logistics platform, Tanger Med continues to bolster its transshipment activities, solidifying its status as a linchpin in the Mediterranean basin’s maritime network.
The port’s robust performance in container transshipment and hydrocarbon handling highlights its pivotal role in regional and global trade dynamics.
