First commercial shipment between Melilla and Beni Ansar since 2018

As Rue20 reports, for the first time since the closure of commercial customs in 2018, a vehicle loaded with goods crossed today from the city of Melilla to Beni Ansar.

According to the same sources, the bus was carrying household appliances and cleaning products, and crossed the Melilla border crossing at around ten o'clock this Wednesday morning. On arrival, it had to complete the corresponding entry formalities on the Moroccan side.

On the other hand, in the city of Ceuta, no information was received about a similar crossing, and companies dedicated to the transport of goods and merchandise were not notified about the procedures to follow.


This is the first re-entry of goods from Melilla and Ceuta into Morocco in six and a half years.

It is worth noting that, a few days ago, the Spanish government confirmed that the opening of customs in Ceuta and Melilla with Morocco, agreed almost three years ago after the meeting between President Pedro Sánchez and King Mohammed VI, is ‘very close’ to materialising.

For the moment, trade is expected to be minimal and highly regulated during this initial stage. Products such as fruit, vegetables and fish will be exported from Morocco. Spain will export hygiene and cleaning products, household appliances and electronics.

Diplomatic relations between the two nations have improved markedly following Spain's recognition of Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, considered the most serious, credible and realistic option for resolving the conflict, which has persisted since Spain's departure from the region and the end of the colonial era more than 40 years ago.