Nador West Med Eastern terminal starts with 3.5 million-container capacity
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Le Matin and Lebrief
Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan launched operations at Nador West Med’s first container terminal on 31 October 2026 in Iaâzzanène, on the instructions of King Mohammed VI, according to Lebrief. The Eastern terminal will be able to handle 3.5 million containers by 2030. Concessioned to Marsa Maroc and Terminal Investment Limited for 25 years, it represents an investment of about 5 billion dirhams, according to Le Matin.
The ceremony was held on Saturday 31 October 2026 in the commune of Iaâzzanène, in Nador province, on the instructions of King Mohammed VI, according to Lebrief.
The industrial and port complex is still to receive a Western terminal with a capacity of 1.8 million TEUs, which is due to become operational in April 2027. Concessioned to Marsa Maroc and CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping company, the terminal will have 900 metres of quay and 38 hectares of storage yards. It will bring Nador West Med’s total capacity to 5.3 million containers, according to Le Matin.
The site also includes a 7-million-tonne bulk terminal expected in June 2027, a 25-million-tonne hydrocarbon terminal scheduled for April 2027 and a liquefied natural gas terminal with a capacity of 5 billion cubic metres. A 3-million-tonne general cargo terminal is due to enter service in December 2028. The complex is expected to create 14,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs in the short term, according to Le Matin.
The terminal’s launch comes after Mohammed VI launched Nador West Med on 28 October and announced the imminent opening of Nador West Med’s first terminal on the same day. The project was also presented on 29 October as mobilising 54 billion dirhams.
