Four International Companies Competing to Supply Rails for the Kénitra-Marrakech TGV
Kénitra-Marrakech High-Speed Rail Project Advances with International Tender Launch
The ambitious high-speed rail project connecting Kénitra to Marrakech has reached a new milestone with the launch of an international tender by the National Railway Office (ONCF) for the supply of new batches of rails needed for this strategic railway infrastructure.
The estimated value of the contract exceeds 151 million dirhams. Initially, six international companies specializing in rail production and supply participated in the procurement process. However, after administrative selection, the competition was narrowed down to four candidates eligible to submit their financial offers.
There are significant discrepancies in the proposals received, with amounts ranging from approximately 179.96 million to 211.96 million dirhams, all exceeding the initial estimate set by the ONCF.
Among the four remaining candidates, Italian company JSW Steel Italy Piombino SpA submitted the lowest financial bid. They are followed by India’s Jindal Steel Limited, the Chinese group China Railway Material Group H(K), and Germany’s Saarstahl Rails SAS.
Conversely, two Chinese firms, China Railway Materials Track and China Railway Shanhaiguan Bridge, were eliminated during the administrative phase and did not progress to the financial offer evaluation.
JSW Steel Italy Piombino already possesses experience with the ONCF, having secured a contract in December 2024 to supply rails for the Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line for a value nearing 653 million dirhams. Additionally, its industrial site in Piombino has a long history in rail production, dating back to 1909, and is currently owned by Indian group JSW.
Jindal Steel Limited ranks among the leading private steel producers in India and plays a significant role in the country’s railway industry. Its involvement in this procurement process is noteworthy, as it marks its first bid for a rail supply contract with the ONCF, according to available data.
The Chinese group China Railway Material Group H(K) also has recent experience in the Moroccan market, having won a contract in April 2025 for approximately 489 million dirhams to supply rails for the same project.
German company Saarstahl Rails SAS is another familiar name for the ONCF, as it supplied around 60 rails for Morocco’s conventional railway network in 2022.
This new competition comes as Morocco accelerates the implementation of its railway development program, particularly with the progress of the Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line and the simultaneous modernization of the conventional network connecting several major cities across the Kingdom.
The supply of rails is a crucial component for the realization of this new line, given the particularly high technical requirements imposed by infrastructure designed for high-speed trains.
The diverse range of companies engaged in this process underscores the international interest in Moroccan railway projects. Industrial groups from Italy, India, China, and Germany are competing to contribute to the construction of this infrastructure.
The bids will be subject to technical and financial assessments before the final selection of the contractor is made. Nevertheless, this new phase confirms the ongoing mobilization of the equipment and resources necessary for the expansion of Morocco’s high-speed rail network.
Through the Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed rail project, Morocco aims to solidify its ambition of making rail a major pillar of its transportation system, developing new high-speed lines while modernizing the conventional network to enhance connectivity between major cities and support traveler mobility, as well as economic and tourism activities.
