Port traffic in Morocco to increase by 3.9% in 2003

Port traffic in Morocco is expected to reach 60 million tons in 2003, that is a 3.9 percent increase compared to last year's estimates, said on Wednesday director general of the Moroccan ports office (ODEP), Mustapha Baroug.

This increase is projected to reach 7 percent for traffic of liquid goods in bulks, 5.6 percent for general goods and 1.8 percent for solid goods in bulk, said Baroug during a meeting of ODEP administration board, chaired by equipment and transport minister, Karim Ghellab.

Baroug noted that containers activity, to grow significantly, is expected to register a 12.3 percent increase, to reach 4.35 million tons, whereas passengers transit will increase by 10 percent.

The sales expected for 2003 will be about 2.01 Billion Dhs (US $201.3 million), that is a 1.9 percent increase.

Tax reduction enforced during 2002 fiscal year allowed to make significant performances, including an "unprecedented" growth in the net result estimated at 102 percent.

As to the 2001-2005 investment program (of a budget estimated at 3.6 billion Dhs (US $360 million), Baroug said it was updated to meet new demands of port traffic, carry on the modernization of ports and satisfy operators' demands.