Morocco to open its second Mediterranean deepwater port in Nador

Morocco will open the Nador West Med port in the last quarter of this year, adding a major new gateway on the Mediterranean and reinforcing the country’s ambition to become a key hub for trade, shipping, and energy.

The port is located near Nador and is designed to handle large volumes of international cargo. When operations begin, it will be able to process around 5 million containers a year. 

In the future, this capacity can be expanded to up to 12 million containers, putting Nador West Med among the biggest ports in the region.

The project represents an investment of about $5.6 billion and includes large-scale infrastructure built for long-term use. 

The port is protected by more than 5 kilometres of breakwaters and includes around 4 kilometres of quays. 

Four power stations have also been installed to ensure a steady supply of electricity for port operations and nearby facilities.

Energy is a key part of the project. Nador West Med is designed to host Morocco’s first liquefied natural gas terminal, with an annual capacity of about 5 billion cubic metres.

 A hydrocarbons terminal is also planned, supporting Morocco’s efforts to secure energy supplies and reduce vulnerability to global market shocks.

The port is also expected to act as a magnet for industry and logistics. Around 700 hectares have been reserved for industrial and logistics zones linked to the port. 

These areas have already attracted around 20 billion dirhams in private investment, showing strong interest from both local and international companies.

Nador West Med follows the success of Tanger Med, which has grown into the largest port in Africa and the Mediterranean. 

Tanger Med transformed Morocco into a major gateway between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Alongside upgrades to ports such as Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, and Agadir, the new Nador port fits into Morocco’s wider strategy to modernize its ports, support exports, and create jobs.