Morocco's port traffic grows by 15.3% in the first half of 2024

The dynamism of Moroccan ports continues to rise, reflecting the country's growing relevance in international trade. In the first half of 2024, the total volume of commercial traffic handled by Moroccan ports reached 116.4 million tonnes, an increase of 15.3% compared with the same period of the previous year, according to data provided by the Ministry of Equipment and Water.

Domestic traffic, i.e. the movement of goods within the country, reached 60.8 million tonnes, an increase of 13%. This growth, although significant, was exceeded by transhipment traffic, which stood at 55.6 million tonnes, 17.8% more than in the first half of 2023. Transhipment, which consists of the transfer of goods from one vessel to another without going through customs, represents a crucial part of port activity, especially in deep-water ports such as those of Morocco.  

In terms of traffic distribution, transhipment dominated with 47.8% of the total, closely followed by imports, which accounted for 32.2%, and exports, which represented 16.3%. Cabotage, which refers to maritime transport between ports in the same country, although less relevant, accounted for 2.9 per cent of the total traffic, down 10.9 per cent from the previous year.

According to La Vie Éco, a detailed analysis of imports shows a volume of 37.5 million tonnes, 15.9% more than in 2023, while exports reached 18.9 million tonnes, an increase of 13.2%. Despite this overall growth, cabotage experienced a contraction, moving only 3.4 million tonnes. However, the supply of hydrocarbons to ships, crucial for ships crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, grew by 10.6%, reaching 923,400 tonnes.  

Among the most relevant types of traffic, the movement of containers stood out, which reached 5.6 million TEUs, representing an increase of 16%. Increases were also observed in the import of hydrocarbons (6.3 million tonnes, up 9.8%), cereals (5.4 million tonnes, up 26.2%) and phosphates and related products (16.1 million tonnes, up 44.6%). Other sectors such as international road transport and new car traffic also grew, although coal traffic fell by 8.4 per cent to 4.9 million tonnes. 

In terms of passenger traffic, Moroccan ports handled 1.47 million people in the first half of the year, an increase of 7% compared to the same period in 2023. However, cruise activity experienced a notable drop of 23%, with only 96,450 passengers registered. 

On the other hand, the coastal and artisanal marine fisheries sector recorded a 10.2% decrease in the volume of landings, reaching 469,715 tonnes in the first six months of 2024.

These results underline the strength and strategic importance of Moroccan ports in global trade. Despite some challenges, the remarkable growth in several key areas reinforces Morocco's ability to further boost its economy and consolidate itself as a vital point on international trade routes. The country demonstrates a clear positive trend that bodes well for the future of its port infrastructure and its impact on the region.