Cadiz Seeks to Establish a Maritime Route to Agadir and Dakhla
Cádiz-Port Association Works Towards New Maritime Route Linking Spain and Morocco
The Cádiz-Port Association, which brings together key economic and logistical players from the port of Cádiz Bay, is working on establishing a new maritime freight route connecting southern Spain to the Moroccan ports of Agadir and Dakhla, with a planned stopover in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
According to its president, Daniel Macpherson, quoted in Spanish media on August 29, 2023, discussions with two shipping companies are now "well advanced." The project has the backing of the Cádiz Bay Port Authority along with cooperation from Moroccan authorities.
A Connection between Cádiz, Las Palmas, Agadir, and Dakhla
The project aims to utilize feeder container ships as well as vessels specialized in roll-on/roll-off transport. Cádiz would serve as the starting point on the Iberian Peninsula, while Las Palmas would act as an intermediate stop before onward transport to the Moroccan ports of Agadir and Dakhla.
However, the timeline for launching this service depends on the selection of vessels. Macpherson indicated that an agreement with the shipowners currently being approached could allow for a swift initiation of the route. Conversely, ordering new ships could delay the launch by up to four years.
Cádiz-Port views this forthcoming connection as a means of strengthening trade relations with southern Morocco. The association believes that given the support of the port of Las Palmas, Cádiz is well-positioned to become a "strategic commercial hub" towards this part of the kingdom.
Automotive Traffic at the Heart of Ambitions
The promoters of this route aim to go beyond the seasonal agricultural exchanges traditionally seen between the two sides. Products such as fruits, vegetables, and seafood—especially octopus—could be supplemented by more consistent industrial goods.
Components for the automotive industry are particularly among the targeted traffic. This focus is aligned with the development of Morocco’s industrial chains and the search for new logistics solutions to enhance trade flows between Europe and the kingdom.
The new connection could also help alleviate some of the constraints caused by maritime and road traffic in the Strait of Gibraltar, which is heavily congested during the summer months.
Marsa Maroc at the Center of Tensions in the Canaries
Nonetheless, the project emerges in a context marked by tensions surrounding the development of Moroccan port infrastructure and the presence of Moroccan operators in Spain.
Recently, Antonio Morales, the president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, expressed concerns about Morocco’s development and the growing significance of the port of Dakhla for the region’s commercial balance.
At the same time, the Spanish government has suspended the operation in which Marsa Maroc is set to acquire a 45% stake in Boluda Maritime Terminals for approximately €80 million. This transaction, which involves nine Spanish terminals, including those in Cádiz, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote, is still under review by the relevant Spanish authorities.
Morales has denounced this operation, considering it a potential threat to the control of strategic port infrastructure in the archipelago.
Morocco Becomes Crucial for Port Operators
Despite these tensions, several major international players are reinforcing their presence in Morocco. The Spanish company Boluda and the Italo-Swiss group MSC have already reached agreements with Rabat regarding the operation of port terminals.
Interest from operators is especially directed toward the opportunities presented by Nador, Dakhla, and Tanger Med, the development of which has significantly altered the logistical landscape of Morocco’s Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.
For Cádiz-Port, the ascendance of Tanger Med serves as a model and confirms the potential of the Moroccan market. In the Canaries, this same dynamic is viewed with caution, as some officials fear it may intensify competition from Moroccan ports on island platforms.
The upcoming link between Cádiz, Las Palmas, Agadir, and Dakhla could thus represent a new link in maritime exchanges between Spain and Morocco, while highlighting the increasing importance of Moroccan ports in European logistical strategies.
