Marrakech – Marsa Maroc and CMA Terminals, a subsidiary of French group CMA CGM, have finalized their partnership agreement for the operation of the West Container Terminal at Nador West Med port.
The joint venture will be owned 51% by Marsa Maroc and 49% by CMA Terminals, pending approval from relevant authorities, according to a joint statement released on October 24.
The terminal is expected to become progressively operational from 2027. It will offer an annual capacity of 1.8 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) on a 60-hectare area. The facility will feature 900 meters of quay with a depth of 18 meters and eight Ship-to-Shore (STS) portique cranes at full capacity.
This agreement marks a new step in the strategic partnership between Morocco and the CMA CGM group, which already has a connection with Tanger Med Group through a convention signed on October 28, 2024.
The alliance will allow the terminal to benefit from CMA CGM’s global network, capable of generating significant traffic volumes, while leveraging Marsa Maroc’s operational expertise and local presence.
The future Nador West Med terminal is designed to be a state-of-the-art transshipment hub, meeting the highest international standards for performance and connectivity.
Strategically located near the Strait of Gibraltar in Betoya Bay, the Nador West Med port will strengthen Morocco’s position as a key player in global maritime trade. It will also help diversify the country’s port platforms on the Mediterranean coast.
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The Nador West Med project is receiving substantial European financial support. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has backed the initiative with approximately €300 million in financing. This includes a €110 million loan approved in March, adding to two previous loans granted in 2015 and 2022 totaling nearly €200 million.
When fully operational, the port aims to handle between 3.5 and 5.5 million containers annually. Beyond container traffic, it will also manage up to 25 million tons of hydrocarbons annually.
The port’s design includes multiple functions. The first phase encompasses a 4.2-km main breakwater, 1.2-km counter-dike, and an Eastern Container Terminal with 1,520 meters of quay and 18-meter draft. The terminal will have a design capacity of 3.4 million TEU under a 25-year concession to Marsa Maroc.
Marsa Maroc is also expanding its maritime services at Nador West Med. In partnership with Boluda Towage France, it has secured a 20-year authorization to provide towage and assistance services at the port. Operations for this service will begin in the last quarter of 2026.
For the West Container Terminal specifically, Marsa Maroc and its partners plan to invest around MAD 3.04 billion ($304 million) for the first phase. The new terminal will increase Marsa Maroc’s total container handling capacity to 9 million TEU, with nearly 7 million TEU dedicated to container transshipment.
The Nador West Med port is positioned as both an energy gateway and a container hub, with connectivity improvements already underway. In July, ONCF launched the Selouane-NWM rail spur, integrating the port into national freight corridors.
