Casablanca – Moroccan exporters are facing renewed pressure from rising maritime transport costs as major shipping companies introduce additional charges on routes connecting Morocco with North American markets. The latest increases are adding to a broader range of freight and logistics expenses at a time when companies are seeking to maintain competitive prices and protect their margins in international markets.

From November 1, Maersk is set to apply a peak-season surcharge of $250 per container on shipments from the western Mediterranean to the United States and Canada. The measure covers Morocco as well as several other countries in the region. It applies to 20-foot, 40-foot and 45-foot dry containers, along with 40-foot refrigerated high-cube containers.

The additional charge comes shortly after another increase affecting shipments from Morocco to the United States. CMA CGM introduced a surcharge of $250 for 20-foot containers and $500 for 40-foot, 40-foot high-cube and 45-foot containers from September 15.

The successive increases are placing greater attention on the cost of maritime transport within Morocco’s export model. Freight charges represent only one part of the logistics bill. Exporters can also face terminal handling fees, documentation charges, storage and container detention costs, fuel-related surcharges, security fees and other local expenses.

The final cost can vary according to the shipping line, route, container type, port and booking period. This makes it increasingly difficult for companies to establish their total logistics expenses well in advance, particularly when international freight markets are experiencing fluctuations.

The impact is especially significant for exporters operating with large shipment volumes. A $250 increase per container would translate into an additional $25,000 for a company shipping 100 containers and $125,000 for 500 containers. For companies operating on narrow margins, such additional costs can have a direct effect on the profitability of export contracts.

The consequences also differ according to the type of product being shipped. High-value goods can generally absorb a fixed freight increase more easily because transportation represents a smaller proportion of their final value. Lower-value products are more exposed because shipping can account for a larger share of the price paid by the foreign customer.

Agricultural and food exporters face particular considerations because many products require controlled-temperature transportation. The inclusion of refrigerated high-cube containers in the latest surcharge means that companies exporting fresh produce and other temperature-sensitive goods may face additional costs on top of existing cold-chain expenses.

The pressure comes as Morocco’s export sectors continue to rely heavily on international supply chains. Automotive manufacturing, aerospace, food processing, textiles, electronics and other export-oriented activities depend on the regular movement of raw materials, components and finished products between Morocco and foreign markets.

Maritime transport therefore has a direct connection with the final cost of exported goods. An increase in freight expenses can affect the price offered to international customers or reduce the margin available to exporters when prices have already been agreed.

This issue can become more complicated when companies operate under fixed-price contracts. If a sales agreement is concluded before a shipping surcharge is announced, exporters may have limited ability to pass the additional cost on to customers. The resulting increase may consequently be absorbed partly or entirely by the company.

The situation is developing alongside continued growth in Morocco’s port activity. National ports handled 262.6 million tons of commercial traffic in 2025, representing an 8.9% increase from the previous year. Export traffic increased by 1.4%, while transshipment activity grew by 14.7%.

Tanger Med remains a central element of this maritime network. The port complex handled around 128.7 million tons of transshipment container traffic in 2025, an increase of 14.4%, while container activity reached approximately 10.3 million twenty-foot-equivalent units, up 7.9%.

The expansion of port infrastructure has strengthened Morocco’s ability to handle international cargo, but greater capacity does not necessarily guarantee stable freight prices. Shipping rates remain influenced by international supply and demand, vessel availability, container availability, port congestion, fuel costs and changes in maritime routes.

The reliability of shipping services is also important for exporters. Delays can create additional expenses through storage, container detention and inventory management, while longer transit times can affect delivery commitments and production planning.

For Moroccan companies, freight management is consequently becoming a more important part of export planning. Businesses can seek to limit exposure to fluctuations by negotiating transportation conditions, planning shipments in advance, consolidating cargo where possible and diversifying logistics options.

The ability to forecast shipping expenses is particularly important for companies competing in price-sensitive international markets. Even when the direct surcharge appears relatively limited, repeated increases across different components of the logistics chain can produce a larger cumulative effect.

Morocco is also working to simplify foreign trade procedures through greater digitalization. The Moroccan Foreign Trade Procedures Gateway, launched in May 2026, is intended to digitize and harmonize procedures linked to import and export operations while improving coordination among the different participants in foreign trade.

Administrative simplification can help companies reduce processing times and improve the flow of information, but it does not remove the influence of international freight conditions. Exporters remain exposed to changes in shipping capacity, geopolitical developments, energy prices and global trade patterns.

The latest increases illustrate how developments in international maritime transport can quickly affect Moroccan companies. A $250 surcharge may appear modest when considered individually, but its impact becomes more significant when multiplied across large numbers of containers and combined with handling, storage, insurance and other logistics expenses.

The effect will depend on the sector, product value, shipment volume and destination. Companies exporting high-value manufactured goods may face a different cost impact from those shipping agricultural products or other goods with lower value per container.

As Morocco continues to expand its presence in international markets, maritime freight is becoming an increasingly important component of export planning. Port infrastructure provides the physical capacity to support trade, while predictable transportation costs and reliable shipping services remain important for companies seeking to compete abroad.

The latest measures from major shipping companies therefore add another layer to the cost calculations facing Moroccan exporters. With freight charges changing according to market conditions and shipping routes, companies increasingly need to factor logistics costs into pricing, contract negotiations, shipment planning and decisions about international market expansion.