New Maritime Route to Slash UK-Morocco Trade Time, Boost Fresh Produce Imports

According to the British media, this new shipping line will be operated by United Seaways, the British specialist in maritime transport. Its mission is to develop British cross-border trade by identifying and opening new shipping routes between the United Kingdom and strategic destinations, it is reported. The same sources specify that the new route could also avoid road congestion and additional import procedures resulting from Brexit.

According to the top management of United Seaways, this new maritime route should encourage British importers to source more fruits and vegetables in North Africa. In total, the United Kingdom bought 180 million pounds worth of fresh produce from Morocco in 2020, compared to nearly 1.8 billion pounds from Spain.

Many British importers welcome the opening of a new line between Morocco and the United Kingdom. For Nigel Jenney, CEO of the Fresh Produce Consortium, the British trade association for the fruit and vegetable industry, the full controls planned for next July could disrupt the British industry for the first time. This new route is an "excellent opportunity" to help the UK source fresh produce from other partners, such as Morocco, he added.