Tanger Tech: Chinese Company Hailiang Completes Its First Copper Factory in Morocco
Chinese Industrial Group Zhejiang Hailiang Advances Production Plans in Morocco
The Chinese industrial group Zhejiang Hailiang, a specialist in copper and its alloys processing, has reached a significant milestone in its industrial establishment in Morocco. On Thursday, August 27, 2026, the company announced that the building for its first production line in Tanger Tech is almost completed.
This facility, designed to produce 50,000 tons of copper and alloys per year, has already received its main equipment, which is currently being adjusted before production is anticipated to commence in the third quarter of 2026.
The new timeline represents a slight shift from prior forecasts announced by Hailiang a few months earlier. In its annual report published at the end of April, the Chinese group had still been aiming for production to begin in the second quarter.
A Copper Tube Factory Also in the Works
Alongside the first line, Hailiang is also developing a second facility dedicated to copper tubes, with an expected annual capacity of 35,000 tons.
The project has already secured its construction permit. Equipment for the first phase has been shipped to Morocco, while the second phase’s equipment has been ordered and is currently under manufacture. However, the company is progressing at varying speeds depending on the components of its future industrial complex.
An Investment of 2.7 Billion Dirhams
The Tanger complex represents one of Zhejiang Hailiang’s major international industrial investments. On May 6, 2024, the group’s board approved a budget of $288 million, approximately 2.7 billion dirhams, to finance the project.
Of this amount, $273 million is allocated for fixed assets, while the remaining $15 million is earmarked for initial working capital needs. Hailiang’s shareholders approved the project on May 22, 2024.
The site covers 304,293 square meters within the Mohammed VI Tanger Tech City, situated in the Tangier-Assilah prefecture. The planned built area totals around 192,548 square meters.
A Complex Dedicated to Various Industrial Applications
Ultimately, Hailiang aims to develop a comprehensive industrial platform in Tanger that covers multiple segments of copper processing.
The group anticipates an annual capacity of 50,000 tons of copper and alloys, 35,000 tons of copper tubes, and 40,000 tons of precision brass bars.
The complex is also expected to produce up to 150 million copper alloy fittings per year, as well as 25,000 tons of copper sheets primarily for lithium batteries.
These productions are intended to meet the needs of rapidly growing industrial sectors, including automotive, thermal equipment, and emerging energy industries.
Uneven Progress Across Different Units
However, not all units planned for the site are at the same stage of development.
The first line for copper and alloys is nearing production readiness, while the tube factory has passed several significant administrative and industrial milestones. Conversely, the facilities designated for manufacturing brass bars, precision fittings, and copper sheets for batteries are still in the design and planning stages.
Once the entire project is fully deployed, the expected production capacity is set to reach 150,000 tons of metal products per year, alongside the 150 million copper alloy fittings.
Why Hailiang Chose Tanger Tech
For Hailiang, the decision to establish its facility in Tanger is driven by several strategic considerations.
The proximity to European markets, the port and logistics infrastructures of northern Morocco, and the Kingdom’s geographic position should enable the group to serve its clients in Europe, Africa, and across the Atlantic more effectively.
Establishing itself in Tanger also places Hailiang near Moroccan and European automotive value chains, a sector that is particularly demanding for copper and alloy products.
Moreover, the group plans to equip its complex with a digital manufacturing system capable of connecting product design, monitoring industrial processes, equipment control, logistics, storage, and energy management to its central management system.
Copper at the Heart of New Industrial Chains
Founded in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, Zhejiang Hailiang already boasts an international industrial network specializing in pipes, bars, fittings, and other copper products.
Its establishment in Tanger is designed to complement this global footprint with a new platform positioned closer to European markets and automotive chains.
In the long run, the Moroccan site may also play a role in the group’s new activities related to copper sheets used in batteries, a strategic segment for developing electric mobility and new energy technologies.
With this first production line close to launching, Hailiang is reaffirming the strategic significance of its industrial presence in Morocco and, more broadly, the potential of Tanger as a hub for production and export.
