Algeciras trembles in the face of the arrival of the Moroccan giant Nador West Med

To maintain its competitiveness in the Strait of Gibraltar, the APBA is launching the Hercules project, with an investment of 200 million euros. The 2026-2030 Business Plan also provides for the injection of 580 million euros in equity, an amount that could reach one billion euros with the participation of private operators. These investments aim to modernize the infrastructure and adapt the port to the new requirements of global maritime trade.

This development strategy is a direct response to the rise of the Moroccan port complex Nador West Med, located 50 kilometers from Melilla. This project, whose first phase is scheduled to be completed between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027, aims for full commissioning by 2030. With operating costs below European standards and a strategic location, the Moroccan site is a direct competitor for the logistics flows in the region.

The port of Nador West Med will have large-capacity infrastructure, including a main breakwater of 4,200 meters and a draft of 18 meters, allowing it to accommodate the latest generation of ships. In addition to container traffic, the complex is developing a significant energy component with dedicated terminals for hydrocarbons, coal, and rolling freight. This diversification aims to capture activity segments currently handled by the ports on the northern shore.

The overall investment for the Moroccan project amounts to around 730 million euros. A significant portion of this financing, more than 300 million euros, comes from loans granted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This institution has the European Union and several member states, including Spain, among its shareholders, placing funds linked to European institutions at the center of the development of this infrastructure.