The Shipping Industry: A Strategic Lever for Economic Sovereignty
Although still in its early stages, Morocco’s maritime industry represents a crucial lever for the national economy. With a 3,500 km coastline and continuously expanding port infrastructure, the country has all the assets to develop a competitive shipbuilding sector. This is particularly relevant following the speech of His Majesty on the occasion of the Green March celebration in 2023, which emphasized the need to promote the development of the Kingdom’s Atlantic coast, especially in the metropolises of the Moroccan Sahara. The priorities iinclude building a maritime economy and encouraging the Blue Economy. Furthermore, the Sovereign called on public authorities to reflect on establishing a strong and competitive commercial maritime fleet.
In its latest report, «The Crucial Challenge of Developing the Shipping Industry in Morocco,» presented on Tuesday, October 15, in Rabat, the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) highlights the need to strengthen this industry to bolster economic sovereignty, especially as global crises have underscored the importance of autonomy in shipbuilding and repair. The report sheds light on the sector’s significant yet largely underutilized strategic potential. Between 2013 and 2022, the sector generated only 500 million dirhams in annual revenue, primarily from fishing boat repair and maintenance. However, the maritime industry could play a key role in Morocco’s industrial diversification, complementing the country’s thriving automotive and aerospace sectors.
The CESE council identifies several obstacles to the industry’s development. A major challenge is the reliance on imported inputs, such as steel, which limits the sector’s competitiveness. Moreover, Morocco has yet to attract private investors to the industry. To address these challenges, the Council recommends adopting an integrated national strategy based on three main pillars. First, the establishment of an institutional framework for coordination between public and private stakeholders. Second, the implementation of incentive measures to attract investors and strengthen industrial integration. Lastly, the targeting of high-potential segments such as fishing vessel construction, ship repair, and ship dismantling.
The development of Morocco’s shipping industry could complement the automotive and aerospace sectors, which are already key pillars of the Moroccan economy, further contributing to the country’s industrial diversification.
Key Figures of the Shipping Industry in Morocco
- Length of Moroccan coastline: 3,500 km
- Exclusive economic zone: 1,200,000 km²
- Number of ports: 43 (14 of which are open to foreign trade)
- Sector revenue between 2013 and 2022: 500 million dirhams/year
- Contribution to GDP: 0.01%
- Direct jobs created between 2013 and 2022: 700 jobs
Amine Boushaba
