The Moroccan port operator Marsa Maroc and CMA Terminals, a subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group, have signed an agreement for the joint operation of the Western Container Terminal in the port of Nador West Med.
The joint venture, in which Marsa Maroc holds 51% and CMA Terminals 49%, is still subject to regulatory approvals. It is intended to strengthen Morocco’s foreign trade and connect the region more closely to global shipping routes.
The terminal is set to go into operation in stages from 2027 and will have an annual handling capacity of up to 1.8 million TEU. According to the company, the terminal will have a quay length of 900 m, a draught of 18 m and a footprint of 37.5 ha on a total area of 60 ha. The facility will be equipped with eight ship-to-shore cranes (STS).
The project will create a new, efficient transshipment hub in the Mediterranean region in eastern Morocco. According to the partners, the location in Betoya Bay near the Strait of Gibraltar offers favorable geographical conditions for transhipment traffic and complements the CMA CGM Group’s existing terminals in the western Mediterranean.
Marsa Maroc brings its local market knowledge and operational experience to the cooperation, while CMA CGM contributes its global network and extensive container traffic. The aim is to develop a terminal in line with international performance and connectivity standards and thus further strengthen Morocco’s position in global maritime traffic.
The port of Nador West Med benefits in particular from its strategically favorable location on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, just a few nautical miles from the Strait of Gibraltar – one of the busiest sea routes in the world. This position enables short transit times to the important trade routes between Europe, Africa and Asia.
