Algeciras and TangerMed Ports Compete for Container Traffic Dominance in Strait of Gibraltar

According to the latest figures published by the Algeciras Port Authority, the total volume of goods passing through the Spanish port is above the symbolic 100 million tonne mark (109 million tonnes in 2019), making Algeciras the 4th largest European port behind Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, reports L’Économiste.

Regarding container traffic, the official data for the first eleven months of 2020 indicate a small dip of 1.4% with 4.7 million standard TEU containers. Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) traffic recorded a small growth of 0.3% to reach around 336,000 units. However, the level of passenger transport experienced a sharp drop of 75% with a total of passengers below 1.5 million, particularly recorded on the lines connecting the Spanish port with Ceuta and those of Tanger Med which had almost no activity over the last eight months. Except for a few exceptional ships that sailed between the two ports.

In order to maintain the level, the Spanish port plans to invest around 61 million euros, or 700 million DH, in its facilities.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan port is about to break its own record and exceed the 5 million TEU container mark for the first time in its history. A performance achieved thanks to the ramp-up of the TangerMed II port, which was commissioned in June 2019 and for which 2020 constitutes the first full year of operation.