Moroccan commercial ports handled a total volume of 148,6 millions de tonnes of goods during the first six months of 2026. Data released by the Ministry of Equipment and Water and reported by Hespress shows this marks a 14,4% increase compared to the roughly 130 million tonnes recorded during the same period in 2025.
This substantial growth in port traffic was primarily driven by transshipment activities. As detailed by LNT, these operations surged by 28,6% year-on-year to reach 82,6 millions de tonnes. Domestic traffic, in contrast, experienced a much more modest growth rate of 0,6%, settling at 66 millions de tonnes for the first half of the year.
Transshipment Dominates Maritime Volume
Transshipment now forms the dominant share of maritime activity across the Kingdom’s ports. Official ministry statistics outline that it accounts for 55,6% of the global volume. Imports follow as the second largest category at 27,4%, while exports represent 13,9%, coastal cabotage accounts for 2,6%, and bunker supply stands at 0,6%.
Divergent Paths in Imports and Exports
An examination of specific trade flows reveals varied trajectories across sectors during the opening half of 2026. According to Hespress, imports rose by 3,6% to reach a volume of 40,7 millions de tonnes. Exports, however, contracted by 1,6% to total 20,6 millions de tonnes.
Domestic coastal shipping, or cabotage, saw a sharp decline of 14,6%, dropping to 3,9 millions de tonnes. Meanwhile, ministry figures show hydrocarbon bunkering services supplying fuel to vessels transiting the Strait of Gibraltar decreased by 4,1% to 868 000 tonnes.
Strategic Commodities Display Mixed Results
Strategic commodity categories demonstrated mixed performance metrics through June 2026. Cereal imports climbed 13,8% to reach 5,8 millions de tonnes, and imported hydrocarbons grew by 7,7% to 7,1 millions de tonnes. Containerized handling registered a steady 1,7% increase to 6,3 millions d’EVP, and new vehicle shipments jumped 12,9% to 357 634 units.
Contractions in Phosphates and Fisheries
Not all sectors participated in the upward trajectory. Data cited by LNT shows the transport of phosphates and related derivative products dropped by 11,2% to 14,6 millions de tonnes. Coal imports similarly dipped 2,9% to 5,2 millions de tonnes, and international road transport (TIR) units contracted by 3,2% to 301 191 units.
Passenger transit through Moroccan ports experienced a negligible decrease of 0,3%, seeing 1,6 million de passagers cross the maritime borders during the first six months of 2026. Cruise ship activity moved upward with a 2,4% increase, welcoming 174 366 croisiéristes. Finally, the landing volume of coastal and artisanal marine fisheries fell by 6,3% at the close of June 2026, totaling 367 184 tonnes, concluding the official periodic release from the Ministry of Equipment and Water.
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