Morocco’s crown prince opens first container terminal at Nador West Med

Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan opened the East container terminal at Morocco's Nador West Med port on Saturday, October 31, with the first container unloaded from a commercial ship, Hespress English reported. The ceremony took place in Iaazzanene commune in Nador Province.

The East terminal is the first container facility at the complex to start operating. Hespress English and SNRT News reported that the crown prince carried out the launch on instructions from King Mohammed VI.

The opening precedes several further stages of construction and commissioning. The West container terminal is scheduled to start operations in April 2027, followed by delivery of a bulk cargo facility in June that year and the opening of a general cargo terminal in December 2028, according to the reports.

At the East terminal, a consortium comprising Marsa Maroc and Terminal Investment Limited, an MSC Group subsidiary, holds a 25-year concession covering operations and maintenance. Hespress English and SNRT News put investment in the terminal at about MAD 5 billion.

The East facility has a quay extending 1,520 metres, a draft of 18 metres and a 70-hectare yard. Its capacity is projected to reach 3.5 million containers by 2030, the reports said. The planned West terminal has a 900-metre quay and an eventual capacity of 1.8 million TEUs.

Separately, an announcement by Marsa Maroc published on the CMA CGM Group website said CMA Terminals had completed its investment in Nador Container Terminal, the West terminal concession company, after receiving regulatory approvals.

Marsa Maroc holds 51% of that company's capital and voting rights, with CMA Terminals holding 49%, the announcement said. The partners signed their agreement in October 2025.

Beyond container handling, the planned energy facilities include an LNG terminal with capacity of 5 billion cubic metres. A hydrocarbon terminal with capacity of 25 million tons is scheduled to begin operating in April 2027, according to Hespress English and SNRT News.

Hespress English put public and private investment across the industrial-port complex at MAD 54 billion. The development includes a 700-hectare industrial and logistics platform, with MAD 12 billion in private investment reported by Hespress English and SNRT News.

Planned transport links include a railway running 49 kilometres from Selouane to Nador West Med and a 105-kilometre highway connection from Guercif, the reports said.