Rabat – Morocco has launched operations at the first container terminal of Nador West Med, a major port complex on the country’s northeastern Mediterranean coast, drawing attention from international media as the country expands its maritime and industrial infrastructure.
Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan inaugurated the East Container Terminal on October 31, acting on instructions from King Mohammed VI. The launch included the first commercial container unloading operation, marking the start of the port complex’s gradual entry into service. The project has attracted MAD 54 billion ($5.9 billion) in public and private investment, according to official figures.
International media outlets in Spain, Switzerland, Italy and Africa have reported on the inauguration and highlighted different aspects of the project. Spain’s El Español focused on Nador West Med’s location just over 30 kilometers from Melilla and its potential to compete with major Spanish ports, particularly Algeciras and Valencia, as Morocco expands its share of Mediterranean maritime traffic.
Switzerland-based Swissinfo detailed the scale of the project, including its MAD 54 billion investment, the first terminal’s infrastructure and the involvement of MSC through its subsidiary Terminal Investment Limited.
Italy’s Agenzia Nova highlighted the port’s wider industrial and energy ambitions, including its planned LNG and hydrocarbon terminals, a 700-hectare industrial and logistics zone, and transport links connecting it to the country’s interior.
Meanwhile, the African Press Agency (APA) presented the inauguration as part of Morocco’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in international maritime trade and develop new industrial and logistics centers, particularly through improved connections with European, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets.
The East Terminal required approximately MAD 5 billion in investment and features 1,520 meters of quay, a depth of 18 meters, and 70 hectares of storage yards. It is expected to reach an annual handling capacity of 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by 2030.
Marsa Maroc and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), a subsidiary of Swiss-based shipping group MSC, will operate the terminal under a 25-year concession.
A second container terminal, the West Terminal, is expected to begin operations in April 2027. Operated by a partnership between Marsa Maroc and French shipping group CMA CGM, it will add 1.8 million TEUs in annual capacity, bringing the complex’s combined container capacity to 5.3 million TEUs.
A new industrial and energy hub
Nador West Med extends beyond container shipping, with plans to develop an integrated industrial, logistics and energy hub in Morocco’s Oriental region.
The complex includes a 700-hectare industrial and logistics platform expected to attract around MAD 12 billion in private investment. Its energy facilities will include a liquefied natural gas terminal with a planned annual handling capacity of five billion cubic meters and an oil terminal capable of handling up to 25 million tonnes.
The wider project is expected to create 14,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs in the short term, according to official estimates. Authorities also plan to connect the port to the regional transport network through a 49-kilometer railway linking it to Selouane and a 105-kilometer highway connecting it to Guercif.
The project builds on Morocco’s experience with Tanger Med, one of the Mediterranean’s major transshipment hubs. Rather than replacing the northern port, Nador West Med is intended to complement it and expand the country’s capacity to handle international maritime trade.
Morocco also plans to develop Dakhla Atlantique on its Atlantic coast, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its position as a maritime and logistics link between Europe, Africa, and international markets.
