Casablanca – Morocco’s ports handled 148.6 million tonnes of commercial traffic during the first half of 2026, marking a 14.4% increase from approximately 130 million tonnes recorded during the same period of 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Equipment and Water.

The increase was largely driven by the expansion of transshipment activity, which has become the largest component of Morocco’s port traffic. Transshipment volumes reached 82.6 million tonnes between January and June, representing growth of 28.6% compared with the first half of last year. The activity accounted for 55.6% of total port traffic during the period.

By comparison, domestic port traffic, excluding transshipment, reached approximately 66 million tonnes, increasing by only 0.6% year on year. The difference between the two segments indicates that the strong overall growth in port activity during the first six months of the year was primarily associated with international maritime flows and the movement of cargo between vessels rather than a significant expansion in domestic trade.

Imports remained the second-largest component of port activity, reaching 40.7 million tonnes and increasing by 3.6% from a year earlier. Exports amounted to 20.6 million tonnes, down 1.6%. Coastal shipping, known as cabotage, recorded a more pronounced decline, with volumes falling 14.6% to 3.9 million tonnes.

Bunkering operations also decreased during the period. The volume of hydrocarbons supplied to vessels transiting the Strait of Gibraltar stood at approximately 868,000 tonnes, down 4.1% compared with the first half of 2025.

The composition of port traffic reflects Morocco’s position along major maritime routes linking Europe, Africa, the Atlantic and Mediterranean markets. The scale of transshipment activity is particularly significant, with more than 82 million tonnes handled during the first half of the year. This segment alone represented more than half of the total volume recorded by Moroccan ports.

Several strategic cargo categories recorded positive growth during the first six months of 2026. Grain traffic increased by 13.8% to 5.8 million tonnes. The rise came as Morocco continued to rely on imports to meet part of its domestic grain requirements, particularly amid fluctuations in agricultural production and weather conditions.

Imported hydrocarbons also recorded an increase. Volumes reached 7.1 million tonnes, up 7.7% year on year. The increase reflects continued demand for imported energy products as Morocco’s ports handle supplies for the domestic market and international maritime activity.

Container traffic registered more moderate growth. Moroccan ports handled around 6.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, during the first half of 2026, representing an increase of 1.7%. Container traffic remains an important indicator of commercial exchanges because it covers a broad range of manufactured goods, consumer products, industrial inputs and other merchandise transported through international supply chains.

The movement of new vehicles recorded a stronger increase. Ports processed 357,634 new vehicles during the period, up 12.9% compared with the first half of 2025. The rise comes as Morocco continues to expand its automotive manufacturing and export activities, with the country increasingly integrated into international vehicle production and distribution networks.

The performance was less uniform in other major cargo segments. Traffic involving phosphates and related products declined by 11.2% to 14.6 million tonnes. Phosphate-related products represent an important part of Morocco’s maritime trade because of the country’s large phosphate mining and fertilizer industry, but their port volumes were lower during the first half of 2026.

Coal traffic also decreased, falling 2.9% to 5.2 million tonnes. International road transport through the ports declined by 3.2%, reaching 301,191 units.

The passenger segment showed considerably less movement than cargo traffic. Moroccan ports handled approximately 1.6 million passengers during the first six months of 2026, representing a marginal decline of 0.3% compared with the same period a year earlier.

Cruise traffic, however, moved higher. Moroccan ports received 174,366 cruise passengers during the first half of the year, an increase of 2.4%. The development comes as Morocco continues to promote coastal destinations and maritime tourism as part of its broader tourism strategy.

The country’s fisheries sector recorded a weaker performance. Landings of products from coastal and traditional fishing declined by 6.3% to 367,184 tonnes by the end of June. The decrease contrasts with the growth recorded in several commercial cargo categories and points to different trends across the various activities handled by Morocco’s port infrastructure.

The first-half figures also come as Morocco continues to invest in the development and expansion of its port network. The country has been increasing the capacity of major maritime facilities while developing new logistics infrastructure designed to support trade, industrial production and international shipping.

The port system has gained particular importance with the expansion of transshipment operations at large facilities on Morocco’s Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. The country’s location near the Strait of Gibraltar gives its ports access to one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, connecting shipping routes between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

The latest data also show that Morocco’s port activity is becoming increasingly diversified. While transshipment generated most of the growth during the first half of 2026, increases in grain, hydrocarbons, containers and new vehicles point to continued activity in several domestic and international supply chains. At the same time, the declines recorded in phosphate-related products, coal, coastal shipping and fisheries illustrate that the expansion was not shared equally across all categories.

The 14.4% increase in total traffic therefore reflects a combination of factors rather than a uniform rise across the entire port economy. Transshipment accounted for the largest contribution, while domestic traffic grew only slightly. Imports increased moderately, exports declined, and passenger traffic remained broadly stable.

Morocco’s port sector nevertheless handled nearly 149 million tonnes of commercial traffic in just six months, underscoring its role in the country’s trade and logistics system. The performance also highlights the growing importance of international cargo flows, particularly transshipment, in determining overall port activity.

With the second half of 2026 still ahead, the evolution of international trade, energy imports, vehicle production and exports, as well as transshipment demand, will determine whether the strong growth recorded during the first six months continues through the rest of the year. The development of port infrastructure and logistics capacity is expected to remain closely linked to Morocco’s broader industrial and trade expansion.