Morocco: Port activity statistics to end September 2023

At the end of September 2023, Morocco’s ports handled a total commercial traffic volume of 155.2 million tonnes, registering an increase of 2.8% on the same period last year, when volume stood at 151 million tonnes. This increase is mainly attributable to growth in transshipment, which totalled 73.5 million tonnes, marking a significant increase of 10.1% compared with the end of September 2022. On the other hand, domestic traffic declined slightly by 3%, reaching a volume of 81.7 million tonnes.

The breakdown of traffic reveals a predominance of transshipment activity, accounting for 47.3% of overall traffic, followed by imports with 31.7% (49.3 million tonnes, down 3.3%), exports with 16.4% (25.4 million tonnes, down 2.1%), cabotage with 3.7% (5.8 million tonnes, down 2%), and hydrocarbon bunkering with 0.8% (1.3 million tonnes, down 12%), mainly for ships transiting the Strait of Gibraltar.

In terms of the main strategic trades, the third quarter of 2023 saw an increase in container traffic (7.5 million TEUs, +8.9%), petroleum coke (769 thousand tonnes, +18.1%), international road transport (376,374 units, +2.5%), and new vehicles (478,496 units, +18.8%). On the other hand, there was a drop in traffic for imported hydrocarbons (8.9 million tonnes, -2.7%), cereals (6.9 million tonnes, -4.8%), coal (8 million tonnes, -9.3%), and phosphates and related products (18.4 million tonnes, -15.9%).

In terms of passenger traffic, Moroccan ports recorded transit traffic of 4 million passengers to the end of September 2023, representing a significant increase of 43.9% on the same period last year. Cruise activity also enjoyed an exceptional recovery, posting a spectacular increase of 1015.8%, with a total number of 146,818 cruise passengers.

The volume of landings of inshore and artisanal marine fishing products fell by a significant 16.1% to 913,974 tonnes at the end of September 2023.