Freight Traffic Surges Between Spain’s Motril Port and Morocco After COVID Restrictions Lift

From January 1 to February 15, 2022, 62,444 tons of goods were transported from the port of Motril to Tanger-Med and Melilla by Baleària, and to Nador and Al Hoceima by Trasmediterránea, which represents nearly half of the total traffic recorded during the year 2022 (146,847 tons). Regarding the number of trucks, 1,306 have already crossed the strait departing from the port of Motril, compared to 1,688 for the whole of 2022, reports Naucher Global.

"If we maintain this trend, we could have a good year, as long as liquid and solid bulk behave well," said the president of the Port Authority of Motril, José García Fuentes. The links from Motril to Melilla resumed in April 2021, before those to Nador and Al Hoceima last year. The one to Tanger-Med was launched just a few months ago as part of the strategy of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Tangier aimed at "strengthening trade links between the two countries".

Initially launched for freight, the Motril-Tanger Med link is now also used for passenger transport. The Trasmediterránea ferry Volcán de Tauce, with a capacity of 1,100 meters of hold and 350 passengers, operates this link, says José García Fuentes.