Morocco–United States: Rising Freight Costs Challenge Logistics Competitiveness

The new increase announced by CMA CGM for shipments to the United States will add to the logistics costs for Moroccan exporters starting September 2026. However, this pressure on maritime transport does not undermine the Kingdom's main competitive advantages: a leading port platform around Tanger Med, a free trade agreement with Washington, and an increasingly integrated industrial base within international value chains.

An Additional Charge Increasing Exporters' Costs

Starting September 15, 2026, CMA CGM will implement a "Rate Restoration Initiative" on goods shipped from the Western Mediterranean, including Morocco, to the United States. The announced surcharge amounts to $250 for a 20-foot container and $500 for 40-foot, 40-foot High Cube, and 45-foot formats. The carrier specifies that these amounts are in addition to the base freight and other applicable charges, including those related to fuel, terminals, and security.

For Moroccan companies, this development occurs in a context where managing logistics costs becomes a critical factor of competitiveness. However, the real impact will vary depending on the goods, the volumes transported, the contracts negotiated with shipowners, and the overall cost structure of each sector.

This increase therefore does not, by itself, challenge Morocco's presence in the American market. It rather serves as a reminder of a reality inherent to international trade: even when a product is competitive at the factory gate, its transportation cost can significantly alter its competitive position.

The United States: A Strategic Market

The American market plays an important role in Morocco's export diversification strategy. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, trade between the two countries represented approximately $7.39 billion in 2025. U.S. exports to Morocco reached $5.53 billion, while imports from Morocco amounted to $1.86 billion.

These figures also show that the trade relationship remains unbalanced in favor of the United States. For Rabat, the challenge is to increase the value and volumes of Moroccan exports to better leverage the potential of the American market.

In this perspective, transportation costs become a parameter to closely monitor, but they should not be isolated from other elements that determine market access.

Tanger Med: A Major Logistics Advantage

Morocco has a significant asset in this area: its port infrastructure. The Tanger Med complex handled 11,106,164 TEUs in 2025, marking an 8.4% year-on-year increase. The activity of the container terminals notably benefited from the expansion of the TC4 terminal.

This capacity gives the Kingdom a unique position in international logistics chains. Tanger Med allows for the concentration of large volumes, connecting Morocco to numerous shipping routes and supporting the growth of exporting industries.

Port performance does not eliminate the market power of major shipping companies. However, it can enhance Moroccan shippers' ability to seek more competitive solutions, particularly through volume consolidation and negotiating longer-term commercial contracts.

The question then becomes less about the amount of a one-time surcharge and more about the companies' capacity to optimize their entire supply chain.

The Free Trade Agreement with Washington Remains an Advantage

In the face of rising freight costs, Morocco retains another lever: its free trade agreement with the United States, which came into effect on January 1, 2006.

According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the agreement provided for the immediate elimination of tariffs on 95% of eligible consumer and industrial products, with a gradual elimination of remaining tariffs over several years.

This trade advantage remains essential. An increase in maritime transport can reduce part of the margin enjoyed by exporters, but it does not eliminate the tariff preferences provided by the agreement.

For Moroccan companies, competitiveness in the American market thus relies on a combination of factors: tariff access, product quality, delivery times, logistical reliability, industrial capacity, and cost control.

Logistics Becomes an Industrial Challenge

The growth of Tanger Med illustrates a broader transformation of Morocco's economic model. The Kingdom is no longer just seeking to attract industrial activities; it is simultaneously developing the necessary infrastructure to connect these activities to major global markets.

This evolution particularly concerns the automotive, aerospace, electronics, textile, and agri-food sectors, whose supply chains require regular and predictable flows.

In this context, each increase in freight serves as a reminder of the dependence of exporting economies on maritime transport conditions. However, companies can reduce their exposure by diversifying their operators, consolidating their volumes, improving shipment planning, and developing multimodal solutions.

Strengthening land connections also contributes to this logic. In August 2026, Maersk notably highlighted a new rail solution linking Tanger and Casablanca to improve the fluidity and predictability of Moroccan supply chains.

A Signal to Take Seriously, Without Overdramatizing

The surcharge announced by CMA CGM is therefore more of a signal for vigilance than a shock that could alone undermine Morocco's commercial strategy in the United States.

For exporters, the immediate challenge will be to assess the impact of these additional $250 to $500 on each category of goods. For public authorities and logistics stakeholders, the challenge is more structural: to continue reducing costs and timelines across the entire chain while maintaining sufficiently diversified maritime connectivity.

The port power gained by Morocco represents a significant advantage in this regard. The performance of Tanger Med shows that the country already has a critical mass capable of supporting substantial industrial flows.

The real challenge in the coming years will be to transform this capacity into an even broader economic advantage. As Moroccan companies upscale and seek new outlets, logistics can no longer be viewed as a mere transport function. It becomes a central element of industrial competitiveness.

The increase in freight to the United States thus underscores a reality: in a globalized economy, producing cheaper is no longer enough. It is also essential to deliver quickly, regularly, and at the best cost. In this area, Morocco already holds several cards. The challenge remains to play them in a sufficiently coordinated manner so that occasional tensions in maritime transport do not slow its progress in the American market.