Casablanca – The Japanese shipping giant Ocean Network Express (ONE) is set to launch a new maritime route connecting Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, aiming to strengthen trade flows and expand regional logistics capacity. The new service, named Spain–Portugal–Morocco (SPM), is scheduled to begin operations on October 16, 2025, linking the ports of Valencia, Lisbon, and Casablanca on a biweekly schedule.

ONE has announced that the SPM route will provide broader regional coverage and enhanced logistical efficiency, using the Port of Valencia as a central transshipment hub. This hub will connect Moroccan and Iberian exporters with ONE’s global shipping network, offering seamless integration with trade routes spanning Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

The Japanese carrier already maintains a strong presence in the Iberian Peninsula, making regular calls at Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, Vigo, Gijón, and Algeciras, supported by operational offices in Madrid. These established operations allow ONE to offer comprehensive maritime services, facilitating trade for companies across various sectors, particularly agri-food and industrial exporters.

The new SPM service comes amid intense competition among global shipping lines and significant shifts in shipping alliances. Earlier this year, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd exited the Premier Alliance and joined the Gemini Cooperation with Maersk, while ONE has maintained partnerships with Taiwan’s Yang Ming and South Korea’s HMM, in addition to capacity-sharing agreements with Switzerland’s MSC on the Asia–Europe corridor. These alliances reflect the evolving strategies of leading shipping companies to optimize global connectivity and market reach.

ONE’s expansion plans are guided by its ONE 2030 strategy, which aims to increase the company’s operational capacity to 3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), positioning it as the fourth-largest global shipping operator after MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, and COSCO. The company has already demonstrated its ability to handle ultra-large container vessels, with its flagship, “ONE Innovation,” setting a world record in Rotterdam by carrying 22,233 TEUs on a single voyage.

For Morocco, the SPM service represents a significant opportunity to strengthen trade ties with Europe. Casablanca, as the country’s main commercial port, is expected to see increased throughput, particularly in sectors like agriculture, processed foods, and industrial goods. The biweekly service will also offer more predictable and efficient shipping schedules, enabling exporters to plan better and integrate into global supply chains with greater reliability.

The launch of the SPM line aligns with broader trends in Mediterranean maritime trade, as ports across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco adapt to increasing demand for faster, more sustainable, and cost-effective shipping solutions. By leveraging Valencia as a hub, ONE will provide Moroccan exporters with direct connections to major European markets, reducing both transit times and logistical costs.

This development also coincides with other initiatives to enhance Morocco’s maritime logistics capabilities. For instance, global logistics operator DP World plans to start its Atlas service in November 2025, linking Agadir and Casablanca directly to London and Antwerp. The line, dedicated to refrigerated agricultural products, is expected to cut export times by two days and reduce the carbon footprint by 70% compared with road transport. These parallel initiatives highlight Morocco’s growing role as a regional hub for both containerized and perishable goods trade.

Experts note that the expansion of maritime routes like SPM will strengthen Morocco’s integration into international trade networks and enhance the competitiveness of Moroccan ports in the global shipping landscape. With ONE’s upcoming biweekly rotations and its ability to deploy ultra-large vessels, the company is poised to capture a growing share of the Europe–North Africa trade corridor, creating benefits for local industries and reinforcing Morocco’s strategic position in international logistics.

ONE’s soon-to-launch SPM service represents a strategic step forward for Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, facilitating smoother trade flows, improving regional connectivity, and reflecting the broader trend of innovation and competition in global maritime shipping. Once operational, the route will position Casablanca as a key hub for containerized trade in the Western Mediterranean, offering exporters more efficient, reliable, and sustainable shipping solutions.