The Tangier Port in northern Morocco is rapidly expanding its capacity as global shipping lines reroute vessels to avoid the troubled Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal. Idriss Aarabi said the priority is to prevent congestion as more Europe-bound container ships pass through the Strait of Gibraltar. Major carriers, including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM, have this month confirmed rerouting cargo around the Cape of Good Hope on Africa’s southern tip.
In 2025, Tangier handled 11.1 million containers, an 8.4% increase from 2024, outperforming many Mediterranean peers. The port’s growing role comes as shipping has increasingly avoided the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait since late 2023, when Yemen’s Houthi authorities imposed a blockade of the Red Sea. Further disruptions followed U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which closed the Strait of Hormuz, amplifying regional instability. Other African ports are also benefiting. Lamu has emerged as a key bunkering hub for Dubai-bound vessels, with Kenyan authorities planning to develop it into Africa’s premier deep-water transshipment port. Analysts say the Gulf crisis is accelerating Africa’s role in global shipping, offering opportunities for ports like Tangier and Lamu to capture traffic diverted from traditional Middle Eastern and Mediterranean routes.
