Casablanca – Morocco’s port sector continued to expand in the first quarter of 2026, with total commercial cargo handled across the country’s ports reaching 63.3 million metric tons, according to the Ministry of Equipment and Water. The figure represents a 4.3% increase compared with 60.7 million metric tons recorded during the same period in 2025, underscoring the growing role of the Kingdom’s maritime infrastructure in trade, industry, and logistics.
The results highlight the increasing importance of transshipment activity, as well as strong growth in imports of grains and energy products. They also reflect sustained momentum in strategic export sectors such as phosphates and automotive manufacturing.
Transshipment accounts for more than half of total traffic
A key feature of Morocco’s port performance in early 2026 was the continued expansion of transshipment operations, in which containers and cargo are transferred between vessels for onward transport to international destinations.
Transshipment volumes reached 31.8 million metric tons by the end of March, up 5% from the same period a year earlier. This activity alone represented 50.3% of all commercial traffic handled by Moroccan ports, confirming the country’s growing position as a regional logistics and maritime hub.
Domestic cargo traffic, excluding transshipment, totaled 31.5 million metric tons, a 3.5% increase year-on-year.
The distribution of overall traffic was as follows:
- Transshipment: 50.3%
- Imports: 31.3%
- Exports: 15.3%
- Coastal shipping: 2.5%
- Marine bunkering: 0.6%
These figures illustrate the diversified nature of Morocco’s port activity and the increasing significance of international relay services.
Imports drive growth in commercial traffic
Imports were the main contributor to the increase in overall cargo volumes during the quarter.
Moroccan ports handled 19.8 million metric tons of imported goods between January and March, up 10.7% compared with the first quarter of 2025.
This rise was fueled by strong increases in several essential commodities.
Grain traffic reached 2.8 million metric tons, a sharp increase of 33.7%. The surge reflects higher import requirements to secure domestic food supplies in the context of continued drought and lower local agricultural production.
Imported petroleum products rose 16.9% to 3.7 million metric tons, while coal traffic increased 17% to 2.8 million metric tons, highlighting sustained demand for energy resources used in power generation and industrial operations.
Exports and strategic industrial sectors
Export volumes totaled 9.7 million metric tons during the first quarter, a slight decrease of 1.9% from the same period last year.
Despite the modest decline in overall export tonnage, several industrial sectors maintained positive momentum.
Phosphates and phosphate-based products, one of Morocco’s most important export categories, reached 7.3 million metric tons, up 2.8% year-on-year. The performance confirms the continued importance of the sector in supporting external trade and industrial output.
The automotive industry also contributed to port activity growth. Moroccan ports processed 148,053 new vehicles during the first three months of 2026, representing an 8.2% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
This growth reflects sustained expansion in vehicle manufacturing and exports, particularly from industrial platforms in Tangier and Kenitra.
Mixed trends in other cargo segments
Not all cargo categories expanded during the quarter.
Container traffic declined slightly by 1.9% to 2.9 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a standard measure for containerized shipping.
International road freight also fell by 5.8% to 147,535 units.
Coastal shipping within Morocco decreased 30% to 1.6 million metric tons, making it the weakest-performing segment during the period.
Meanwhile, marine bunkering activity increased 4.3% to 409,000 metric tons. This service, which supplies fuel to vessels passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, remains an important niche market for Morocco’s ports.
Passenger traffic stable as cruise tourism surges
Passenger traffic through Moroccan ports remained broadly stable during the first quarter.
A total of 718,720 travelers passed through the country’s ports by the end of March, representing a slight decline of 0.8% compared with the same period last year.
Cruise tourism, however, posted a strong recovery. The number of cruise passengers rose 44.1% year-on-year to 80,209.
The increase points to growing interest among international cruise operators in Moroccan destinations such as Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir, and Safi.
Fishing landings decline sharply
In contrast to the positive performance of commercial cargo and cruise tourism, coastal and artisanal fishing activity weakened significantly.
Fish landings at Moroccan ports fell 34.3% to 89,895 metric tons by the end of March 2026.
The decline reflects lower catch volumes and highlights the challenges facing parts of the fisheries sector.
Strategic importance of Morocco’s port infrastructure
The first-quarter results confirm the central role of Morocco’s ports in supporting the national economy.
Growth in imports of grain and energy products demonstrates the importance of maritime infrastructure in ensuring food and energy security. At the same time, strong performances in phosphates, automotive shipments, and transshipment reinforce Morocco’s position as a competitive industrial and logistics platform.
With transshipment now accounting for more than half of all traffic, Morocco is strengthening its role as a gateway between Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic and Mediterranean trade routes.
As port investments continue and trade volumes expand, the sector is expected to remain a key driver of economic activity, export competitiveness, and regional connectivity throughout 2026.
