HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
Amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Tangier Med Port emerges as one of the major beneficiaries of the shifts in international maritime traffic, with expectations of a significant increase in the number of incoming ships in the coming weeks.
Major global shipping companies are changing the routes of their ships towards the Cape of Good Hope, avoiding security risks in the Red Sea and its surroundings, which gives the Moroccan port a strategic position on global trade lines. In this context, the port administration clarified that this shift will lead to an extension of the duration of sea voyages by between 10 and 14 days, which imposes new logistical challenges, foremost of which is the need to control the flow of containers and avoid congestion within the port. Despite these pressures, those in charge of Tangier Med Port are focusing on managing capacity proactively, while ensuring the smooth flow of operations and maintaining the quality of services, especially since no cancellations of voyages have been recorded so far. This shift comes at a time when ships continue to avoid passing through the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandab Strait since the end of 2023, as a result of security tensions, which has contributed to redrawing the global maritime transport map in favor of the longer routes across the African coasts. On the other hand, the increase in sailing distances has led to an increase in shipping costs, as transport companies have imposed additional fees ranging from $1,500 to $3,300 per container, and may reach $4,000 for special equipment, in light of rising fuel prices and insurance costs associated with geopolitical risks. Tangier Med Port reinforces its position as the largest container port in Africa, after the number of containers it handled exceeded 11 million containers during the year 2025, with a wide network that includes more than 180 ports around the world, making it a pivotal player in international supply chains.
