Maritime transport dominates Morocco’s trade with the European Union

13:45

By: Azzat Manal

Maritime transport dominates Morocco’s trade with the European Union

Maritime transport remained the main channel for goods exchanged between Morocco and the European Union in 2025, underlining the strategic importance of shipping routes and port infrastructure to the country's trade with its largest commercial partner.

Eurostat data show that Moroccan imports from the European Union transported by sea were worth approximately €17.57 billion last year, while maritime exports from Morocco to the bloc reached around €26.02 billion. These figures highlight the dominant role of maritime routes in the value of bilateral merchandise trade.

Sea transport accounted for about 68.8% of the total value of Moroccan imports from the European Union and approximately 70.6% of exports. The figures reflect the extent to which Morocco's commercial links with European markets depend on ports and maritime connections across the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

The dominance of shipping becomes even more pronounced when trade is measured by weight rather than monetary value. More than 8.50 billion kilograms of goods imported from the European Union were transported by sea, while Moroccan maritime exports exceeded 20.37 billion kilograms.

On this basis, maritime transport represented roughly 86.6% of the total weight of Moroccan imports from the European Union and around 95.6% of the weight of exports. The difference between value and volume also illustrates the wide variety of products traded between the two sides.

Morocco recorded a maritime trade surplus of about €8.45 billion in 2025, based on the difference between the value of exports and imports transported by sea. The surplus formed a significant part of the country's overall trade balance across different transport modes.

Road transport ranked second in terms of the value of goods exchanged. Moroccan imports transported by road were worth approximately €7.10 billion, compared with about €8.27 billion in exports. Road connections remain particularly important for supply chains requiring direct links between production facilities, distribution centres and European markets.

Air freight accounted for a much smaller share of total merchandise trade by value, with imports estimated at around €610 million and exports at approximately €1.94 billion. Despite the lower overall figures, air transport plays a distinct role in trade because it is generally used for goods that are more time-sensitive or have a higher value relative to their weight.

The contrast between transport modes therefore reflects differences in the types of products being shipped. Maritime routes offer the capacity to move large volumes over long distances, while road transport provides flexibility and faster connections for regional supply chains. Air freight, meanwhile, is particularly suited to products for which delivery time is a major consideration.

Inland waterway transport remained marginal in Morocco-EU trade, with imports transported through this mode valued at roughly €624,000 and exports at about €322,000.

The 2025 figures underline the importance of Morocco's maritime infrastructure to its integration with European supply chains. The country's ports serve as key links between domestic production, international shipping networks and European markets, while road and air connections provide complementary options for different categories of goods.

The continued dominance of maritime transport also highlights the broader role of logistics in Morocco's trade strategy. As commercial exchanges with the European Union expand and supply chains become increasingly interconnected, the capacity and efficiency of ports and maritime links remain central to the movement of goods between Morocco and Europe.