Casablanca – Maritime transport accounted for the largest share of merchandise exchanges between Morocco and the European Union in 2025, with goods transported by sea valued at nearly $50 billion. The figures underline the scale of Morocco’s commercial links with the European market as Nador West Med prepares to begin operations in the final quarter of 2026.

Sea-borne trade between Morocco and the European Union reached approximately $49.6 billion last year, comprising around $20 billion in imports and $29.6 billion in exports. Maritime transport therefore represented the main channel for merchandise exchanges between the two sides, carrying a significantly larger share of trade than road, air and other transport modes.

The figures provide a broader picture of the logistical infrastructure supporting Morocco’s trade with its largest commercial partner. They also place the development of Nador West Med within an already established network of maritime routes serving Moroccan exporters and European buyers.

Maritime transport accounted for 68.8% of the value of Moroccan imports from the European Union in 2025. Total imports transported through all modes were worth approximately $29 billion, with sea freight representing about $20 billion.

The maritime share was higher on the export side. Morocco’s exports to the European Union transported by sea reached approximately $29.6 billion, representing 70.6% of total exports valued at around $41.9 billion.

The importance of maritime transport becomes even more pronounced when the physical volume of merchandise is considered. Approximately 8.5 billion kilograms of Moroccan imports were transported by sea during the year, compared with 20.37 billion kilograms of exports. Maritime shipping consequently accounted for 86.6% of the total weight of imports and 95.6% of export weight.

The difference between the value and weight shares reflects the broad range of merchandise moving through maritime routes. Ships handle large volumes of industrial products, agricultural goods, machinery, components, raw materials and containerized cargo, allowing significant quantities of merchandise to move between Morocco and European markets.

The trade balance also shows a substantial difference between maritime exports and imports. Morocco’s sea-borne exports exceeded imports by approximately $9.6 billion in 2025. This maritime surplus represented more than two-thirds of the overall trade surplus recorded across the various transport modes.

Road transport occupied the second position in terms of trade value. Moroccan imports transported by road were worth approximately $8 billion, while exports reached around $9.4 billion. Air transport represented a much smaller portion of the exchanges, with imports valued at roughly $700 million and exports at about $2.2 billion.

The different shares of transport modes reflect their distinct roles in Morocco-EU commerce. Maritime shipping is suited to large-scale cargo flows, while road transport provides an important connection for goods moving between Morocco and European destinations through established land and short-sea logistics networks. Air freight generally handles smaller shipments with a higher value relative to their weight.

The composition of Morocco’s exports to the European Union also contributes to the importance of maritime logistics. Automotive products, machinery, agricultural goods, textiles and other manufactured products form major components of bilateral merchandise trade. Many of these products require regular and reliable connections with European distribution and manufacturing networks.

Morocco’s automotive sector, for example, has become increasingly integrated into European supply chains. Agricultural and food exports also depend on predictable transport links to European markets, while industrial components and manufactured products move through established logistics corridors.

Against this background, Nador West Med is preparing to enter a large existing maritime trading system. The port is scheduled to begin operations during the fourth quarter of 2026, with its terminals expected to enter service progressively.

The project has involved approximately $5.3 billion in public and private investment. Its initial infrastructure is designed to provide annual capacity for up to 5 million containers and 35 million tonnes of liquid and solid bulk cargo.

The development includes two container terminals, with their commissioning planned in stages. The complex also incorporates infrastructure for bulk cargo and energy-related activities, giving it a broader function within Morocco’s port and logistics network.

The scale of Nador West Med means that its role will extend beyond the movement of containers. The complex is being developed with industrial and logistics activities in mind, creating the possibility of closer links between maritime transport, manufacturing, storage and distribution.

Its location in northern Morocco places it close to European markets and existing Mediterranean shipping routes. The facility is therefore expected to become part of the wider network connecting Morocco with Europe and other international markets.

Several factors will determine how quickly the new port develops its commercial activity. The establishment of regular shipping services, the number of vessels calling at the port and the volume of containers and bulk cargo processed will provide direct indicators of its use.

The existing distribution of Morocco-EU trade means that the nearly $50 billion in maritime exchanges recorded in 2025 should not be interpreted as an amount that will automatically pass through Nador West Med. Those flows are currently distributed among established ports and shipping routes, and decisions about cargo routing depend on shipping companies, exporters, importers, logistics operators and transport costs.

The actual share of Morocco-EU maritime trade handled by Nador West Med will therefore emerge progressively after the port begins operations. Its performance can be measured through container throughput, bulk cargo volumes, vessel calls and the development of regular maritime connections.

The relationship between Nador West Med and other Moroccan ports will also be an important part of the country’s evolving port system. The new facility is expected to add capacity and provide another major gateway for international trade, while existing ports will continue handling their established cargo flows.

For the Oriental region, the project also has a wider economic dimension. The development of logistics and industrial activities around the port is intended to create additional links between international trade and regional economic activity. Road and rail connections will be important in determining how efficiently cargo can move between the port and inland destinations.

The scale of Morocco-EU trade provides a substantial commercial environment for this expansion. Total merchandise exchanges between the two sides reached roughly $71 billion in 2025, while maritime transport accounted for nearly $50 billion of that trade.

The figures also demonstrate the continuing importance of Europe to Morocco’s external commerce. European markets absorb a large share of Moroccan exports and supply a significant portion of the country’s imports, creating sustained demand for transport infrastructure capable of handling large and diverse cargo flows.

For Nador West Med, the transition from construction and preparation to commercial operations will provide the first concrete evidence of how the new facility fits into these exchanges. Infrastructure capacity establishes the potential for handling large volumes, but actual activity will depend on the shipping services, cargo owners and logistics networks that use the port.

The 2025 figures nevertheless establish the scale of the maritime environment into which Nador West Med is entering. Nearly $50 billion in Morocco-EU merchandise trade already moved by sea in a single year, with exports substantially exceeding imports and maritime transport accounting for the overwhelming majority of goods by physical weight.

As the new port moves toward its planned launch, its development will add another component to the infrastructure supporting Morocco’s commercial relationship with the European Union. Its eventual role will be determined by the cargo it attracts, the shipping connections it establishes and the extent to which it becomes integrated into the existing flow of trade between Morocco and European markets.