A large ship carrying 55,000 tonnes of raw sugar has arrived at Casablanca port, becoming the first vessel of its size to use Marsa Maroc’s upgraded multipurpose terminal. The 200-metre bulk carrier was chartered by Moroccan sugar producer Cosumar. It was able to dock after the first phase of a project to deepen the terminal’s quays, giving the facility a new draft of 12 metres.
Marsa Maroc said the arrival marks the start of a new phase for the port, allowing it to receive larger bulk cargo ships than before.
“We are witnessing the opening of the Port of Casablanca to a new range of calls by large-capacity bulk carriers. With 230 metres of quay now rehabilitated and deepened to 12 metres, the terminal can accommodate vessels with capacities approaching 60,000 tonnes,” said Khalid Mansour, Director of the Bulk Business Unit at Marsa Maroc.
The company plans to continue expanding the terminal. The operational quay length is expected to grow from 230 metres to 530 metres by 2028, while the terminal’s total capacity is set to exceed 8 million tonnes.
The project is part of wider efforts to improve cargo handling at Casablanca, Morocco’s main port for bulk goods.
For Cosumar, the move could help lower transport costs. The company supplies most of Morocco’s sugar market and exports to more than 40 countries in Africa and Europe.
According to Anas Jamal Eddine, Cosumar’s Commercial, Marketing and Supply Chain Director, the partnership with Marsa Maroc shows how closer cooperation between industry and port operators can support growth.
Cosumar says the deeper quays and other operational improvements will allow it to use larger ships in the future. Carrying more cargo on each voyage can help reduce shipping costs per tonne, a key advantage as global commodity and freight prices continue to fluctuate.
Marsa Maroc handled a record 57.4 million tonnes of cargo across its network last year and stands as Morocco’s largest port operator.
