Port of Algeciras Faces Economic Strain as Morocco Border Closure Continues

The president of ATEIA Algeciras, Manuel Cózar, deplored this recurring situation. "Unfortunately, we are again experiencing a collapse of the Algeciras PCF, with trucks from Morocco waiting 5 days a week due to the accumulation of files," he said, stressing that no solution could be found to the situation, despite the multiple meetings held and correspondence sent after the crisis that occurred in December.

"The solutions presented have led to nothing and once again we are plunged into a deep chaos," laments Cózar, who recalled that "the losses suffered during the Christmas period have led to a sharp drop of more than 25% in the strategic traffic of the port of Algeciras". Cózar also stressed the great "despair of customers and operators", not to mention the staff who are also at risk of being seriously affected. For him, this situation is due "to incompetence, inaction and lack of commitment of a government that seems to have an interest in Campo de Gibraltar and its port losing competitiveness".

Even if the situation is the same in all Spanish ports, Cózar affirms that the port of Algeciras is "the biggest loser in history due to the important maritime container traffic and road traffic from Morocco". "When will the government understand that our port must benefit from differentiated treatment and, consequently, must be the one that benefits from the greatest support?" he wonders.