A pair of Nike trainers sold in West Africa could soon spend less time travelling through Europe before reaching a shop. Hudson Holdings, the Maltese group that distributes Nike in more than 30 African countries, plans to open a logistics hub in Tangier in early 2027. The company announced the project on 22 October as it marked 40 years of partnership with Nike. The new facility will complement its existing warehouses in Malta and Kenya and help supply retailers across West, Central and East Africa.
Hudson has not disclosed the planned investment, the facility’s storage capacity or its exact location in Tangier.
The group currently relies on a bonded warehouse in Malta, where goods arriving from Asia and Europe are sorted, prepared and labelled before being shipped to African markets. Nike moved its African distribution operations from Dubai to Hudson in Malta in the late 2000s.
The Tangier hub will bring stock closer to African retailers and could reduce delivery times by cutting the need to route some goods through Malta.
Hudson’s partnership with Nike began in 1986, when Alfie Borg, then 22, introduced the sportswear brand to Malta.
During the 2000s, Borg helped expand Nike’s presence in Nigeria, followed by Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The companies celebrated their 40-year partnership at a Nike meeting in Barcelona.
The Tangier project follows Hudson’s growing investment in Moroccan retail. The group helped bring Spanish fashion brand Mango back to the country in 2022 and has since expanded its presence through single-brand and multi-brand shops, including Urban Jungle.
On 24 September 2026, a new Nike store opened at Rabat’s Arribat Center. The outlet introduced Nike By You, a service that allows customers to customise products, to Morocco for the first time, according to Hudson.
Hudson also distributes other international brands, including Converse, Intersport and Tommy Hilfiger. The company has not said whether the Tangier facility will handle stock for these brands or how much of its African inventory will move from Malta.
Why Tangier?
Tangier sits on major shipping routes linking Europe, Africa and Asia. Its nearby port, Tanger Med, handles more than 8.6 million containers a year, measured in standard 20-foot units, and connects to more than 180 ports worldwide.
The location could help Hudson supply African retailers more quickly and manage stock closer to customers. It also offers an alternative to relying on a warehouse in Europe for goods destined for African markets.
Shipping disruptions have added to the pressure on global supply chains. Security threats in the Red Sea have led some shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing journey times on certain routes.
Morocco’s export-oriented logistics zones also offer tax and customs incentives. Eligible companies can benefit from a five-year corporate tax exemption, according to the country’s investment framework, while goods in transit can qualify for customs-duty exemptions. The precise terms depend on the zone and the company’s activities.
Hudson’s existing warehouse network in Malta and Kenya will remain part of its African distribution operations, although the company has not detailed how the new facility will change the flow of goods.
The Tangier hub is expected to begin operating in early 2027, adding another link between international suppliers and retailers across more than 30 African countries.
