The dynamism of Moroccan ports continues to grow, reflecting the growing importance of the country 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 to the same period of the previous year, according to data provided by the Ministry of Equipment and Water.
Internal traffic, that is to say the movement of goods within the country, reached 60.8 million tonnes, or an increase of 13%. This growth, although significant, was exceeded by transshipment traffic which stood at 55.6 million tonnes, or 17.8% more than in the first half of 2023. Transshipment, which consists of transferring goods from one ship to another without going through customs, represents a crucial part of port activity, particularly in deep-water ports such as those in Morocco.
According to La Vie Éco, a detailed analysis of imports shows a volume of 37.5 million tonnes, or 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 passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, increased by 10.6%, reaching 923,400 tonnes.
