A new competitor is on the horizon for container terminals in the western and southern Mediterranean: the Moroccan port of Nador, home to Nador West Med, which will be upgraded to reach an annual capacity of 1.2 million TEUs. This will be made possible through a partnership between CMA CGM and Marsa Maroc, who have formed a joint venture to equip and manage, over a 25-year period, a 750-meter quay section and 35 hectares of yard. The agreement includes a total investment of $280 million.
Through this joint venture, in which CMA CGM holds 49% and Marsa Maroc 51%, the two companies will manage 50% of the container terminal at Nador West Med. The project includes significant infrastructure improvements: eight transshipment cranes and 24 electric RTGs will be installed, enhancing the current equipment. Located in the strategic area of Gibraltar, the Nador West Med port enjoys an ideal position in the Bay of Betoya, at the mouth of the Oued Kert river, representing an added value for the expansion of CMA CGM's terminals in the western Mediterranean.
This initiative aligns with the growing importance of Morocco as a logistical and port hub with significant growth potential. The Nador West Med terminal is also set to become a refueling center for new synthetic energy sources in the Mediterranean, supported by Morocco's production of green hydrogen. In particular, it will serve CMA CGM's dual-fuel vessels (gas and methanol).
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, explains: "Morocco is positioning itself as a strategic logistical and port hub with strong growth potential. The partnership we are establishing with Marsa Maroc represents a key step for the CMA CGM Group, strengthening our presence through the Nador West Med container terminal. Our ambition is to support the country's development, particularly in the emerging sectors of logistics and alternative energies."
Present in Morocco since 1983, the CMA CGM Group employs 1,300 people in the country and operates 31 maritime services from major Moroccan ports (Agadir, Casablanca, Tanger Med). In addition to maritime transport, the French group offers integrated logistics solutions through its subsidiary Ceva Logistics. CMA CGM also owns 100% of the Casablanca terminal (via Somaport) and 40% of the Eurogate Tangiers terminal, and operates a ferry service between Marseille and Tanger-Med through La Méridionale.
