Canary Islands oppose Marsa Maroc's entry into Boluda maritime group

Monday 19 January 2026 - 17:00

By: Sahili Aya

Canary Islands oppose Marsa Maroc's entry into Boluda maritime group

The Canary Islands government has formally requested that Madrid reconsider or block Moroccan port operator Marsa Maroc’s planned acquisition of a 45% stake in the Spanish maritime giant Boluda.

Antonio Morales, president of the Gran Canaria government, expressed concerns that the transaction could threaten strategic interests at the Port of La Luz in Las Palmas, the archipelago’s main port. Morales highlighted the public nature of Marsa Maroc, which is partly state-owned through the Tanger Med complex and the Hassan II Fund, as a potential source of conflict with the Canary Islands’ logistical and economic infrastructure.

The proposed deal, announced in December 2025, would see Marsa Maroc acquire 45% of Boluda Maritime Terminals (BMT) for around €80 million. Boluda operates nine ports across the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, handling over a million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, making it a key player in regional maritime trade.

Marsa Maroc and Boluda argue that the partnership will generate operational and industrial synergies, including expertise sharing in terminal management, logistics innovation, and supply chain optimization. The deal also aims to strengthen the strategic Morocco–Spain maritime corridor and expand presence toward the African continent.

Local authorities in the Canary Islands view the investment as a challenge to the historical centrality of the archipelago’s ports, especially in the context of the rising influence of Moroccan ports such as Tanger Med. While Madrid evaluates the deal, the dispute underscores a shifting geo-economic balance in the Atlantic, where Morocco is increasingly positioning itself as a key maritime actor.