Rabat – More than 100 Moroccan companies are set to benefit from a planned direct shipping line between Morocco and Saudi Arabia. This line aims to deepen trade ties by offering exporters faster and more efficient access to the Saudi market.
According to Khalid Benjelloun, president of the Moroccan-Saudi Business Council, the shipping line is designed to reduce transit time for goods from four weeks to just four days, making Moroccan products more competitive in Saudi Arabia.
Benjelloun noted that economic relations between the two nations have improved significantly in recent years, with growing trade volumes and joint investments. The proposed shipping line, he said, is a strategic step forward, supporting Moroccan businesses — particularly in industries like fresh food, automobiles, sugar, and textiles — to better serve Saudi demand.
While initial studies indicate that the shipping line may not be profitable in its first years of operation, Benjelloun emphasized its long-term benefits in strengthening bilateral trade.
Feasibility studies for the project are expected to be completed by the end of this year, paving the way for the operational phase.
The shipping line is projected to benefit more than 100 Moroccan companies currently exporting or planning to export to Saudi Arabia, offering them a faster, more reliable route and opening new opportunities to expand their reach in the Gulf region.
Morocco and Saudi Arabia are stepping up efforts to strengthen their bilateral cooperation, with a focus on key economic, trade, and investment sectors that could drive mutual growth and regional development.
